System for decomposing events from managed infrastructures with natural language processing

ABSTRACT

A system is provided for decomposing events from managed infrastructures. A first engine is configured to receive message data from a managed infrastructure that includes managed infrastructure physical hardware that supports the flow and processing of information, The at least one engine is configured to determine common characteristics of events and produce clusters of events relating to the failure of errors in the managed infrastructure. Membership in a cluster indicates a common factor of the events that is a failure or an actionable problem in a physical hardware of the managed infrastructure directed to supporting the flow and processing of information. The first engine is configured to create one or more situations that is a collection of one or more events or alerts representative of the actionable problem in the managed infrastructure. A second engine is configured to determine one or more common steps from events and produces clusters relating to events. The second engine determines one or more common characteristics of events and produces clusters of events relating to the failure or errors in the managed infrastructure. The system is configured to use natural language processing techniques to analyze threshold entries in a situation room to identify resolutions to problems.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication 62/612,438 filed on Dec. 30, 2017.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to methods and systems for decomposingevents from managed infrastructures, and more particularly to methodsand systems for decomposing events from managed infrastructures usingnatural language processing.

Description of the Related Art

The World Wide Web is increasingly becoming a more important and morefrequently used form of communication between people. The primary formof web-based communication is electronic mail. Other forms ofcommunication are also used, however, such as news groups, discussiongroups, bulletin boards, voice-over IP, and so on. Because of the vastamount of information that is available on the web, it can be difficultfor a person to locate information that may be of interest. For example,a person who receives hundreds of electronic mail messages/events frominfrastructure a day may find it impractical to take the time to storethe messages/events from infrastructure in folders of the appropriatetopic. As a result, it may be difficult for the person to later find andretrieve all messages/events from infrastructure related to the sametopic. A similar situation arises when a person tries to locate newsgroups or discussion groups of interest. Because there may be noeffective indexing of these groups, it can be difficult for the personto find groups related to the topic of interest.

Some attempts have been made to help the retrieval of information ofinterest by creating web directories that provide a hierarchicalorganization of web-based information. The process of creating thedirectories and deciding into which directory a particular piece ofinformation (e.g., a news group) should go is typically not automated.Without an automated approach it is impractical to handle the massiveamounts of web-based information that are being generated on a dailybasis. Moreover, because a person may not be fully aware of the entireweb directory hierarchy or may not fully understand the semantics ofinformation, the person may place the information in a directory that isnot the most appropriate, making later retrieval difficult. It would bedesirable to have an automated technique that would help organize suchinformation.

The advent of global communications networks such as the Internet hasprovided alternative forms of communicating worldwide. Additionally, ithas increased the speed at which communications can be sent andreceived. Not only can written or verbal messages/events frominfrastructure be passed through the Internet, but documents, soundrecordings, movies, and pictures can be transmitted by way of theInternet as well. As can be imagined, inboxes are being inundated withcountless items. The large volume can more than difficult to manageand/or organize for most users.

In particular, a few of the more common activities that a user performswith respect to email, for example, are: sorting of new messages/eventsfrom infrastructure, task management of using messages/events frominfrastructure that can serve as reminders, and retrieval of pastmessages/events from infrastructure. Retrieval of recent messages/eventsfrom infrastructure can be more common than older messages/events frominfrastructure. Traditional systems employed today support at least someaspect of these three activities using folders such as an inbox,task-oriented folders, and user-created folders, respectively. However,this as well as other existing approaches present several problems. Thefolders make stark divisions between the three activities which are notconducive or coincident with user behavior, in general. For example,tasks are not visible to the user, or rather are “out of sight, out ofmind”, and thus can be easily, if not frequently, neglected, overlooked,or forgotten. In addition, in many current systems any given message canonly be in one folder at a time. Hence, the particular message cannotserve multiple activities at once. Other current systems have attemptedto ease these problems; however, they fall short as well for similarreasons.

A user can communicate using one or more different messaging techniquesknown in the art: email, instant messaging, social network messaging,cellular phone messages/events from infrastructure, etc. Typically, theuser can accumulate a large collection of messages/events frominfrastructure using one or more of these different messagingtechniques. This user collection of messages/events from infrastructurecan be presented as a large collection of messages/events frominfrastructure with limited options of grouping or clustering themessages/events from infrastructure.

One way of grouping messages/events from infrastructure is to groupmultiple emails into an email thread. An email thread is a collection ofemails that are related based on the subjects of the emails. Forexample, one user sends an email to one or more users based on a givensubject. Another user replies to that email and a computer would markthose two emails as belonging to a thread. Another way for groupingmessages/events from infrastructure is put the messages/events frominfrastructure into folders. This can be done manually by the user orcan be done automatically by the user setting up rules for messageprocessing.

Document clustering and classification techniques can provide anoverview or identify a set of documents based upon certain criteria,which amplifies or detects certain patterns within its content. In someapplications these techniques lead to filtering unwanted email and inother applications they lead to effective search and storage strategies.An identification strategy may for example divide documents intoclusters so that the documents in a cluster are similar to one anotherand are less similar to documents in other clusters, based on asimilarity measurement. One refers to the process of clustering andclassification as labeling. In demanding applications labeling cangreatly improve the efficiency of an enterprise, especially for storageand retrieval applications, provided that it is stable, fast, efficient,and accurate.

Users of information technology must effectively deal with countlessunwanted emails, unwanted text messages/events from infrastructure andcrippling new viruses and worms every day. This largely unnecessarilyhigh volume of network traffic decreases worker productivity and slowsdown important network applications. One of the most serious problems intoday's digital economy has to do with the increasing volume of spam. Assuch, recipients of email as well as the service providers needeffective solutions to reduce its proliferation on the World Wide Web.However, as spam detection becomes more sophisticated, spammers inventnew methods to circumvent detection. For example, one prior artmethodology provides a centralized database for maintaining signaturesof documents having identified attributes against which emails arecompared, however, spammers now modify the content of their email eitherslightly or randomly such that the message itself may be intelligible,but it evades detection under various anti-spam filtering techniquescurrently employed.

At one time, at least 30 open relays dominated the world, burstingmessages/events from infrastructure at different rates and differentlevels of structural variation. Because certain types of email mutate orevolve, as exemplified by spam, spam-filtering detection algorithms mustconstantly adjust to be effective. In the case of spam email, forexample, the very nature of the spam corpus undergoes regime changes.Therefore, clustering optimality depends heavily on the nature of thedata corpus and the changes it undergoes.

Decomposing a traffic matrix has proven to be challenging. In onemethod, a matrix factorization system is used to extract applicationdependencies in an enterprise network, a cloud-based data center, andother like data centers, using a temporal global application trafficgraph dynamically constructed over time and spatial local trafficobserved at each server of the data center. The data center includes aplurality of servers running a plurality of different applications, suchas e-commerce and content delivery. Each of the applications has anumber of components such as a, web server, application server anddatabase server, in the application's dependency path, where one or moreof the components are shared with one or more of the other applications.

Because such data centers typically host a large number of multi-tierapplications, the applications requests are overlapped, both in thespatial and temporal domains, making it very difficult for conventionalpair wise statistical correlation techniques to correctly extract theseinterleaved but independent applications. A matrix-based representationof application traffic is used which captures both system snapshots andtheir historical evolution. The system and method decomposes a matrixrepresentation of application graphs into small sub-graphs, eachrepresenting a single application.

The number of applications is usually unknown a priori due tointerleaving and overlapping application requests, which further imposesa challenge to discovery of the individual application sub-graphs. Inone prior method and system, the number of applications is determinedusing low rank matrix estimation either with singular valuedecomposition or power factorization based solvers, under complete andincomplete traffic data scenarios, with theoretical bound guarantee.

Traffic tapping from switches is limited by the capability of switchesas well as the monitoring hosts. A switch typically can mirror only afew ports at the same time. In addition, monitoring data collected overmultiple switches, each with multiple ports may result in high-volumeaggregate network traffic and potentially packet loss. Both cases leadto significant loss in the monitoring data.

One system and method to overcome this problem utilizes historical datato provide redundancy and employs power factorization based techniquesto provide resilience to data loss and estimation errors. In one systemand method, a distributed network monitors and centralizes dataprocessing to determine application dependency paths in a data center.

The majority of current service management solutions are rule based. Theconcept behind rule-based systems is that you start with the system youare monitoring, analyze and model it, turning it into a series ofbusiness logic rules that respond to events as they occur. For example,in response to some logged text, you apply logic that turns the textinto a database record to which you apply more logic that turns it intoan alert, before applying again more logic to connect the alert to atrouble ticket.

There is a need for improved systems for decomposing events from managedinfrastructures, and their associated methods. There is a further needfor decomposing events from managed infrastructures, and theirassociated methods, using natural language processing.

SUMMARY

An object of the present invention is to provide improved methods andsystem for decomposing events from managed infrastructures.

Another object of the present invention is to provide methods andsystems for decomposing events from managed infrastructures usingnatural language processing.

A further object of the present invention is to provide methods andsystems for decomposing events from managed infrastructures with usingnatural language processing techniques to analyze the threshold entriesin a situation room to identify resolutions to problems.

These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in asystem for decomposing events from managed infrastructures. A firstengine is configured to receive message data from a managedinfrastructure that includes managed infrastructure physical hardwarethat supports the flow and processing of information, The at least oneengine is configured to determine common characteristics of events andproduce clusters of events relating to the failure of errors in themanaged infrastructure. Membership in a cluster indicates a commonfactor of the events that is a failure or an actionable problem in aphysical hardware of the managed infrastructure directed to supportingthe flow and processing of information. The first engine is configuredto create one or more situations that are a collection of one or moreevents or alerts representative of the actionable problem in the managedinfrastructure. A second engine is configured to determine one or morecommon steps from events and produces clusters relating to events. Thesecond engine determines one or more common characteristics of eventsand produces clusters of events relating to the failure or errors in themanaged infrastructure. The system is configured to use natural languageprocessing techniques to analyze the threshold entries in a situationroom to identify resolutions to problems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of an event clustering system of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a token counter, text extraction and implementationof Shannon entropy in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of dashboards that can be accessed byusers of the event clustering system.

FIG. 4 illustrates processing of alerts, and a matrix M, in oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of a signalizer engine and the creationof alerts where member of cluster indicates common factors in oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates k-mean decomposition, a created graph with graphcoordinates in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of alert mapping and vector generationin one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates NMF decomposition in one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 illustrates the interaction of link access modules with a messagebus, algorithm engines, cluster creation and a situation room in oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates one embodiment of a deduplication engine that can beused with the present invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates one embodiment of actions that can be takenfollowing event clustering generation.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of a processing system according to anembodiment.

FIG. 13(a)-(c) illustrate an example process that may be implementedusing the systems shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 14 is an example software architecture diagram that may beimplemented using the systems shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 15 is a screen display of a dashboard display system that may beused to configure a dashboard.

FIG. 16 is a screen display of the dashboard external interface screenthat may allow another software program to transmit data in the datarange.

FIG. 17 is a screen display that allows a user to choose a chart view inorder to display data in a graphical format.

FIG. 18 is an example screen display showing the data mapping feature ofthe dashboard configuration screen.

FIG. 19 is an example screen display showing the graphical display ofthe data using the dashboard configuration shown in FIGS. 16-18.

FIG. 20 illustrates one embodiment of a screen display showing the datamapping for the dashboard configuration screen.

FIG. 21 illustrates one embodiment of a screen display showing thegraphical display of the data using the dashboard configuration fromFIGS. 19 and 20

FIGS. 22 through 24 illustrate one embodiment of a mobile device managedinfrastructure that can be used with the clustering system of thepresent invention.

FIG. 25 illustrates one embodiment of a network, which as a non-limitingexample is a neural network.

FIG. 26 illustrates one embodiment of a floating point unit.

FIG. 27 illustrates one embodiment of a summary view of the presentinvention.

FIG. 28 illustrates one embodiment of a situation list view of thepresent invention.

FIG. 29 illustrates one embodiment of a situation Kanban view of thepresent invention.

FIG. 30 illustrates one embodiment of a situation room in an overviewsection of the present invention.

FIG. 31 illustrates one embodiment of a situation room with activityfeed and a chat ops section of the present invention.

FIG. 32 illustrates one embodiment of a team room of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 33(a) and (b) illustrates one embodiment of an event clusteringsystem where each parameter is represented by one or more columns, of atable, in the final feature vector, and a column can represent a timethat can be sorted in any time desired.

FIG. 34 illustrates one embodiment of a feature vector of the presentinvention.

FIG. 35 illustrates one embodiment of an agent technology system.

FIG. 36 illustrates one embodiment of the system utilizing graph theoryto optimize events and alerts.

FIG. 37 illustrates rows of alerts in one embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, the term engine refers to software, firmware, hardware,or other component that can be used to effectuate a purpose. The enginewill typically include software instructions that are stored innon-volatile memory (also referred to as secondary memory) and aprocessor with instructions to execute the software. When the softwareinstructions are executed, at least a subset of the softwareinstructions can be loaded into memory (also referred to as primarymemory) by a processor. The processor then executes the softwareinstructions in memory. The processor may be a shared processor, adedicated processor, or a combination of shared or dedicated processors.A typical program will include calls to hardware components (such as I/Odevices), which typically requires the execution of drivers. The driversmay or may not be considered part of the engine, but the distinction isnot critical.

As used herein, the term database is used broadly to include any knownor convenient means for storing data, whether centralized ordistributed, relational or otherwise.

As used herein a mobile device includes, but is not limited to, a cellphone, such as Apple's iPhone®, other portable electronic devices, suchas Apple's iPod Touches®. Apple's iPads®, and mobile devices based onGoogle's Android® operating system, and any other portable electronicdevice that includes software, firmware, hardware, or a combinationthereof that is capable of at least receiving a wireless signal,decoding if needed, and exchanging information with a server to send andreceive cultural information data including survey data. Typicalcomponents of mobile device may include but are not limited topersistent memories like flash ROM, random access memory like SRAM, acamera, a battery, LCD driver, a display, a cellular antenna, a speaker,a BLUETOOTH® circuit, and WIFI circuitry, where the persistent memorymay contain programs, applications, and/or an operating system for themobile device.

As used herein, the term “computer” is a general purpose device that canbe programmed to carry out a finite set of arithmetic or logicaloperations. Since a sequence of operations can be readily changed, thecomputer can solve more than one kind of problem. A computer can includeof at least one processing element, typically a central processing unit(CPU) and some form of memory. The processing element carries outarithmetic and logic operations, and a sequencing and control unit thatcan change the order of operations based on stored information.Peripheral devices allow information to be retrieved from an externalsource, and the result of operations saved and retrieved. Computer alsoincludes a graphic display medium.

As used herein, the term “Internet” is a global system of interconnectedcomputer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP)to serve billions of users worldwide. It is a network of networks thatconsists of millions of private, public, academic, business, andgovernment networks, of local to global scope, that are linked by abroad array of electronic, wireless and optical networking technologies.The Internet carries an extensive range of information resources andservices, such as the inter-linked hypertext documents of the World WideWeb (WWW) and the infrastructure to support email. The communicationsinfrastructure of the Internet consists of its hardware components and asystem of software layers that control various aspects of thearchitecture.

As used herein, the term “extranet” is a computer network that allowscontrolled access from the outside. An extranet can be an extension ofan organization's intranet that is extended to users outside theorganization in isolation from all other Internet users. An extranet canbe an intranet mapped onto the public Internet or some othertransmission system not accessible to the general public, but managed bymore than one company's administrator(s). Examples of extranet-stylenetworks include but are not limited to:

LANs or WANs belonging to multiple organizations and interconnected andaccessed using remote dial-up

LANs or WANs belonging to multiple organizations and interconnected andaccessed using dedicated lines

Virtual private network (VPN) that is comprised of LANs or WANsbelonging to multiple organizations, and that extends usage to remoteusers using special “tunneling” software that creates a secure, usuallyencrypted network connection over public lines, sometimes via an ISP.

As used herein, the term “Intranet” is a network that is owned by asingle organization that controls its security policies and networkmanagement. Examples of intranets include but are not limited to:

A LAN

A Wide-area network (WAN) that is comprised of a LAN that extends usageto remote employees with dial-up access

A WAN that is comprised of interconnected LANs using dedicatedcommunication lines

A Virtual private network (VPN) that is comprised of a LAN or WAN thatextends usage to remote employees or networks using special “tunneling”software that creates a secure, usually encrypted connection over publiclines, sometimes via an Internet Service Provider (ISP).

For purposes of the present invention, the Internet, extranets andintranets collectively are referred to as (“Network Systems”).

For purposes of the present invention, the term “managed infrastructure”means, information technology, the physical hardware used tointerconnect computers and users, transmission media, includingtelephone lines, cable television lines, and satellites and antennas,and also the routers, aggregators, repeaters, computers, networkdevices, applications, and other devices that control transmissionpaths, software used to send, receive, and manage the signals that aretransmitted, and everything, both hardware and software, that supportsthe flow and processing of information.

As used herein. “event message” or “event” is defined as a change instate. An event is anything that happens, or is contemplated ashappening in message form or event form relating to managedinfrastructure. An event can include a time stamp, and a name for theentity changing state.

Referring to FIG. 1, an event clustering system 10 (hereafter “system10”) is provided for clustering events received from a managedinfrastructure 14.

In one embodiment system 10 includes an extraction engine 12 incommunication with a managed infrastructure 12. Extraction engine 12 inoperation receives messages from the managed infrastructure 14, producesevents that relate to the managed infrastructure 14 and converts theevents into words and subsets used to group the events into clustersthat relate to failures or errors in the managed infrastructure 14. Themanaged infrastructure 14 includes physical hardware and supports theflow and processing of information.

As a non-limiting example, managed infrastructure system 14 hardwareincludes but is not limited to: computers, network devices, appliances,mobile devices, applications, connections of any of the preceding, textor numerical values from which those text or numerical values indicate astate of any hardware or software component of the managedinfrastructure 14, and the like.

Managed infrastructure 14 generates data that includes attributes. As anon-limiting example, the data is selected from at least one of, time,source a description of the event, textural or numerical valuesindicating a state of the managed infrastructure 14.

In one embodiment system 10 makes physical changes in the managedinfrastructure including but not limited to: managed infrastructurehardware changes that create physical and virtual links between themanaged infrastructure and system 10 server, as well as change to linksfrom the server to system 10 high speed storage.

In one embodiment extraction engine 12 communicates with managedinfrastructure 14 across an IP network 15 at high speed and with lowlatency. As a non-limiting example high speed connection is in thegigabits and low latency is in the microseconds. As a non-limitingexample high speed is at least 1 gigabit, and low latency is at least 10microseconds

In one embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 2, extraction engine 12 includesa central processor 16, a main memory 18, an input/output controller 20,an interface 22 that can be include an optional keyboard, a display 24,and a storage device 26. Storage device 26 can communicate through asystem bus 28 or similar architecture.

Referring to Figure's 3(a) and (b) in one embodiment a software system30 directs the operation of the extraction engine 12. Software system30, which can be stored in memory 18, can include an operating system 32and a shell or interface 34. A user can interact with the softwaresystem 30 via interface 22.

Application software 36 can be transferred from storage device 26 whichcan be via software system 30 into memory 18 for execution by extractionengine 12.

In one embodiment extraction engine 12 receives user commands and datathrough interface 22. These inputs can be acted on by extraction engine12 with instructions from operating system 32 and/or application system34. In one embodiment operating system 32 and/or application system 34are included in operating software system 30.

The extraction engine 12 breaks event messages 40 into subsets ofmessages that relate to failures or errors in managed infrastructure 14.In one embodiment the extraction engine 12 breaks events 40 into subsetsof messages relative to failure or errors in an managed infrastructure14 via a message input mechanism, including but not limited to, aninput/output controller 20, with or without operating system 32 and/orapplication system 34, that parses machine elements 38 from managedinfrastructure 14 in memory 18. As a non-limiting example machineelements are machine messages.

This can be achieved using operating system 32 and/or application system34 as well as application software from storage device 26.

In one embodiment the extraction engine 12 receives managedinfrastructure data and produces events 40 as well as populates anentropy database 42, illustrated in FIG. 4, with a dictionary of evententropy that can be included in entropy database 42. This can beachieved with a token counter 58 as illustrated in FIG. 5.

In one embodiment, entropy database 42 is generated with the word andsubtexts. As a non-limiting example the entropy database 42 is generatedusing

Shannon Entropy, −ln(1/NGen) and normalizes the words and subtexts asfollows:−ΣP(t)log P(t)

where, P(t=probability of each item is selected randomly from an entiredataset.

In one embodiment entropy database 42 normalizes events across data,datasets, from the managed infrastructure 14. As a non-limiting example,normalized entropy for events is mapped from a common, 0.0 and anon-common, 1.0, as discussed hereafter. Entropy is assigned to thealerts. The entropy for each event is retrieved from an entropydictionary, as it enters the system 10. This can be done continuously inparallel with other operation of the extraction engine 12 or runnon-continuously.

In one embodiment entropy database 42 is generated with the word andsubtexts. A network includes a plurality of nodes, which as anon-limiting example can be nodes 1-6. A non-directed graph is used tocalculate graph entropy for each node in the graph.

The non-directed graph calculates graph entropy for each node in thegraph as follows: (i) the source data is used to calculate the graphdata; (ii) the non-directed graph is used to calculate the number oflinks and the clustering coefficient of the node; (iii) the number oflinks and clustering coefficient of the node together with the totalnumber of links in the graph is then used to calculate an entropy valuefor each node.

In one embodiment, entropy normalizes events 40 across data, datasets,from the managed infrastructure 14. As a non-limiting example,normalized entropy for events 40 is mapped from a common, 0.0 and anon-common, 1.0, as discussed hereafter. Entropy is assigned to thealerts 20. The entropy for each event is retrieved from entropy database42 as it enters the system 10. This can be done continuously in parallelwith other operation of the extraction engine 12 or runnon-continuously.

An N event value is attached to every event of the entropy graph of thesource node. Entropy values are used as a cutoff to ignore events 40from unimportant nodes to classify events 40.

As a non-limiting example the entropy database 42 is generated usingShannon Entropy, −ln(1/NGen) and normalizes the words and subtexts asfollows:−ΣP·(t)log P(t)

where, P(t,)=probability of each item is selected randomly from anentire dataset.

In one embodiment graph entropy is used as a classification mechanismfor elements for a network.

As recited above, system 10 is provided for clustering events 40received from managed infrastructure 14. In this embodiment graphentropy is utilized for event clustering.

The graph entropy functions of the paths can be rewritten as thefollowing equation:H(G)=Σm,n=1·quadrature·U·quadrature·P(um un . . . )log(1/P(um un . . .)),m·notequal to n

where P(u_(m)u_(n)) can be rewritten as the following equation bycombining the aforementioned equationP(u _(m) u _(n))=A(u _(m))y(u _(m) ,u _(n))A(u _(n))

As a non-limiting example an inference is created from a distribution ofthe clustering events 40 received from managed infrastructure 14relative to the nodes, and using graph, with the distribution entropymeasured.

As a non-limiting example the entropy of the frequency distribution ofconnections of the nodes can be used.

As a non-limiting example the events 40 less significant can be can be−log(p), and with a low probability represented as (p˜0) and moresignificant events 40 are classified as very probable (p˜1).

The average is the sum over all nodes i of−p_i*log(p_i)or:average(−log(p_i))

where p_i is the number of connections of the i-th node divided by thetotal number of connections. The entropy is the uncertainty of the nodesrelative to the clustering events 40 received from managedinfrastructure 14.

As a non-limiting example this can be achieved by using an IP protocolstack 46 that communicates with managed infrastructure network protocols48. The managed infrastructure network protocols 48 can be incommunication with application software 36. In one embodiment IPprotocol stack 46 can be executed using one or more of

In one embodiment embedded agents 50 in hardware components 52, whichcan be included in extraction engine 12, gather attributes 54 to amanaged infrastructure 14 system health to generate data that includesattributes 54. As non-limiting examples hardware components 52 includebut are not limited to: computing devices, network switches and devices,storage devices, environmental sensors, power sensors and the like. Inone embodiment hardware components 52 can be included in operatingsystem 32 and/or application system 34 and the like.

In one embodiment interface 22, which can include display 24, serves todisplay results and the user can supply additional inputs or terminate agiven session.

In one embodiment operating system 32 can switch between a manual modeand an automatic mode based on constant monitoring. In one embodimentapplication system 34 can include instructions such as the operationsdescribed herein, including but not limited to extracting textcomponents from event 40 messages and convert them into words andsubtexts.

In one embodiment operating system 32 and/or application system 34 thenreformats data from the event 40 messages to create reformatted data. Inone embodiment, the reformatted data is received at bus 28.

In one embodiment extraction engine 12 has a library 56 stored in memory22.

As a non-limiting example library 56, which can be part of database 42,recognizes sub-categories of messages. As a non-limiting example this isused to reformat data from the event 40 messages to create reformatteddata.|

The subsets and/or sub-categories of messages can be grouped intoclusters. In one embodiment the grouping into clusters is achieved usingoperating system 32 and/or application system 34.

Referring to FIG. 6 one or more signalizer engines 110 (hereafter“signalizer engine 110”) can include one or more of an NMF engines 224,a k-means clustering engine 226 and a topology proximity engine 228. Thesignalizer engine 110 determines one or more common steps from events 40and produces clusters relating to events 40. Each signalizer engine 110includes a processor and an arithmetic logic unit “ALU”. Examples ofsuitable ALUs are found in EP 0171190 and EP 0271255, fully incorporatedherein by reference. In one embodiment, signalizer engine 110 determinesone or more steps from events 40 and produces clusters relating to thealerts and or events 40.

The signalizer engine 110 determines one or more common characteristicsof events 40 and produces clusters of events 40 relating to failure orerrors in the managed infrastructure 14. Membership in a clusterindicates a common factor of the events 40 that is a failure or anactionable problem in the physical hardware managed infrastructure 14directed to supporting the flow and processing of information.

The topology proximity engine 228 uses a source address for each event40 and a graph topology of the managed infrastructure 14 that representsnode to node connectivity, of the topology proximity engine 228, toassign a graph coordinate to the event with an optional subset ofattributes being extracted for each event and turned into a vector. Thetopology engine 228 inputs a list of devices and a list a connectionsbetween components or nodes in the managed infrastructure.

The k-means clustering engine 226 uses the graph coordinates andoptionally can use a subset of attributes assigned to each event togenerate a cluster in order to bring together events 40 whosecharacteristics are similar. NMF engine 224 factors a matrix M into Aand B, where A is inspected and substantially significant clusters areextracted, and B is used to assign a start and end times for eachcluster. An output of clusters is produced. In response to production ofthe clusters one or more physical changes in one or more managedinfrastructure hardware elements is made.

It will be appreciated that signalizer engine 110, NMF engine 224,k-means clustering engine 226 and topology proximity engine 228 can haveall or some of the elements similar to those of extraction engine 12including but not limited to: a central processor, a main memory, aninput/output controller, an interface that can be an optional keyboard,a display, a storage device, computer software system, directingoperation of relevant engine 224, 226 and 228, a software system,operating system, software transferred from a storage device into memoryfor execution the associated engine 224, 226 and 228, an input/outputcontroller with or without an operating system, application system, andthe like. In one embodiment subsets of messages are grouped intoclusters by using a signalizer engine 110. FIG. 6, that has an array ofengine components similar or the same as those in extraction engine 12,including but not limited to, computing devices, network switches anddevices, storage devices, environmental sensors, power sensors and thelike, across a network volatile memory to analyze and create alerts.

In one embodiment a computer software system directs the operation ofthe signalizer engine 110. Software system, which can be stored inmemory, a disk memory and the like, can include an operating system, ashell or interface and an application system.

A user can interact with software system with via the interface.Application software can be transferred from storage device into memoryfor execution by signalizer engine.

In one embodiment signalizer engine 110 receives user commands and datathrough an interface. These inputs can be acted by signalizer engine 110with instructions from operating system and/or application system. Inone embodiment operating system and/or application system 1 are includedin operating system.

In one embodiment signalizer engine with the array of engine componentssimilar to those of extraction engine 12, groups subsets of messagesinto clusters.

In one embodiment signalizer engine 110 includes an array of enginecomponents 112 that perform the grouping of message subsets intoclusters. In one embodiment the engine components can include theoperating system, application system and the like. In one embodimentengine components 112 include but are not limited to: computing devices,network switches and devices, storage devices, environmental sensors,power sensors and the like.

In one embodiment signalizer engine 110 includes a plurality of enginesas illustrated in FIG. 6. As non-limiting examples, an NMF engine 224, ak-means clustering engine 226 and a topology proximity engine 228 areprovided. Each signalizer engine 110 includes a processor and anarithmetic logic unit “ALU”. Examples of suitable ALUs are found in EP0171190 and EP 0271255, fully incorporated herein by reference. In oneembodiment, signalizer engine 110 determines one or more steps fromevents 40 and produces clusters relating to the alerts and or events 40.

Signalizer engine 110 determines signalizer common steps to ascertainhow many clusters to extract from events 40. Membership in a clusterindicates a common factor, which can be a failure or an actionableproblem in the managed infrastructure 14. In one embodiment signalizerengine 110 generates clusters of alerts. In one embodiment, anindependent failure count detection engine 229 is used for theproduction of common steps designated as “k” from events 40. Theindependent failure count detection engine 229 can use SVDdecomposition. The SVD decomposition is a continuation of adetermination of signalizer 110 common steps.

K is the number obtained from the common signalizer steps. As anon-limiting example, common signalizer steps are designated as Mij,where i are unique events 40 and are the rows of M, j represents thetime buckets in M. A value for Mij equals the number of occurrences ofevent i in time bucket j. This is the common input to the signalizerengines 110.

In one embodiment topology proximity engine 228 creates a graphcoordinate system, FIG. 9. In one embodiment topology proximity engine228 uses a source address for each event to assign a graph coordinate230 of a graph 232, with nodes, to the event with an optional subset ofattributes being extracted for each event and turned into a vector. Thetopology proximity engine 228 executes a graph topology and proximityalgorithm.

Mik undergoes K-means decomposition, FIG. 7. Each event is a transformedvector, where (Vo is transformed time stamp, Vi, −Vn and so forth aretransformed graph coordinates 234) are grouped into k clusters such thatd(Vi, V2,) is minimized. In one embodiment, the topology engine 228inputs a list of devices and a list of hops, where hop is a connectionbetween components or nodes in the managed infrastructure 14.

As a non-limiting example, the graph 232 can be constructed of anynumber of points or nodes: A, B, C, and D, which relate to the source ofan event. The result is a connecting graph 232, FIG. 7.

The topology proximity engine 228 receives the coordinate's mapping, andclusters are generated. V base nodes calculate a minimum hops to everyother node which gives coordinate and the graph coordinates 230 aremapped.

In one embodiment, the k-means clustering engine 226 uses the graphcoordinates 230 to cluster the events 40 using a k-means algorithm todetermine hop proximity of the source of the event.

M,k is processed by the signalizer engine 110. Mab is transformed to Aak

Bkb, where a equals rows, and b equals columns, x defines the normaloperation of matrix multiplication. M is the matrix as stated above, andk is as recited above.

The NMF algorithm produces two matrices. A and B. FIG. 8. A representsby cluster (a common failure) and B represents time bucket by cluster (acommon failure). In one embodiment, the NMF engine 224 factors thematrix M into A and B, where A are deemed to be significant and areextracted, e.g., clusters deemed significant are extracted. The system10 looks for significantly high values as compared to statisticallysignificant values in the A and B matrix. If they are not statisticallysignificant, they are dropped. The statistically significant elements ofM are used to determine a cluster. As a non-liming example, thedetermination of significance is based on high signatures in the matrix.As above, those that are not high enough are dropped and not included inthe output of clusters which is produced.

Each alert is mapped to a vector, V0-Vn, where Vo is a time stamp t; Viis an attribute of alert. In one embodiment, attributes of an event aremapped to a vector V.

The vectors are grouped into k clusters using k-means such that d(Vi,V2,) is a minimum in its own cluster.

In one embodiment the grouping is executed also using a standardEuclidian distance. In one embodiment, a weighting of components issupplied. System 10 transforms the alert attributes into a number valuethat is used as the components of the vector. As a non-limiting example,an alert attribute is a textual value. In one embodiment, similarattributes are mapped to numbers that are also similar or close relativeto the graph, with the closeness being dynamic and can be predetermined,changed, modified, set, and the like.

In one embodiment of the matrix, M, columns are slices in time and therows are unique alerts. A unique alert is received from thededuplication engine 23 which eliminates duplications and creates uniquealerts.

In one embodiment, the matrix, M is created with alert/time and a fixednumber of common alerts. The matrix M can be dynamic and change in time.The matrix M includes rows that can be unique alerts. The matrixincludes columns that are time buckets, and a number of occurrences areplotted.

Evaluated events 40 are either discarded or passed to clusters withalerts are collected into time buckets and mapped in the matrix M. Inone embodiment, a bucket width is a parameter that can be an input tothe signalizer engine 110.

Outputs from the signalizer engines 110 are received at a compare andmerge engine 334. The compare and merge engine 334 communicates with oneor more user interfaces 22 in the situation room 336, FIG. 10. The threesignalizer algorithms are used with the comparison or merger engine 334and clusters are published on system 10 for display in the situationroom 336.

As a non-limiting example, the bus 28 can be a publication message bus.As a non-limiting example, the bus 28 processes anything that goes fromA to B, and from B to A. In one embodiment, a data bus web server iscoupled to user interfaces.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, a plurality of link access modules 340 are incommunication with the data bus 438 and receive messages/events 40.Events 40 are received by a coordinator 342 that executes clustering ofthe events 40.

In one embodiment, normalized words and subtexts are mapped to a common,0.0 and a non-common, 1.0, as illustrated in FIG. 5.

The alerts can be run in parallel with the activities of the system 10.The alerts are passed to the signalizer engine 110, FIG. 6.

In one embodiment, deduplication engine 236. FIG. 11, is used for eventmessages of data streams received from the client. The deduplicationengine 236 eliminates duplicate copies of repeating data. In oneembodiment, the deduplication engine 236 reduces a number of bytes innetwork data transfers that need to be sent.

A computer scripting language script language can be included thatalters the events 40 or flow of events 40. As non-limiting examples, thescripting language can be, Java, C, C++. C#. Objective-C, PHP, VB.Python. Pearl. Ruby, Javascript and the like.

In one embodiment, the NMF, k-means, and/or topology proximityalgorithms are optionally repeated. The repeating can be performed byvarying k from the previously performed common steps in the signalizerengine 120, and optionally along with the SVD decomposition.

Optionally, generated clusters are tested against a quality functionsupplied by the system 10 which evaluates a cluster's uniformity. In oneembodiment, the system 10 selects a best set clusters against thequality clusters.

As a non-limiting example, clusters are examiner against a customersupplied configuration database for each source of an event. As anon-limiting example, the examining can be performed to determine: atype of device; impacted users; relevant support experts, and the like.FIG. 12.

EXAMPLE 1

As a non-limiting example, the NMF algorithm can be executed as follows:

Let Mij be an x p non-negative matrix. (i.e., with M>0, and k>0 aninteger). Non-negative Matrix Factorization (NMF) consists in finding anapproximationX=W H(A B),  (1)

where W, H are n k and k p non-negative matrices, respectively. Inpractice, the factorization rank r is often chosen such that r<<min(n,p) but is determined.

$ The main approach to NMF is to estimate matrices W and H as a localminimum: 1) M=AB

A, B seed randomly tentatively adjusts A. B until the Frobenius distance∥M−A B∥ is minimized

where

D is a loss function that measures the quality of the approximation.Common loss functions are based on either the Frobenius distance or theKullback-Leibler divergence.

R is an optional regularization function, defined to enforce desirableproperties on matrices W and H, such as smoothness or sparsity.

EXAMPLE 2

As a non-limiting example, a k-means algorithm is used as follows:

Given a set of event vectors (x₁, x₂, . . . , x_(n)), where eachobservation is a d-dimensional real vector, k-means clustering aims topartition the n observations into k sets (k≤n) S={S₁, S₂, . . . , S_(k)}so as to minimize the within-cluster sum of squares (WCSS):

$\underset{S}{\arg\mspace{11mu}\min}{\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{h}\;{\sum\limits_{x_{j} \in S_{i}}\;{{x_{j} - \mu_{i}}}^{2}}}$

where μ_(i) is the mean of points in S_(i).

In one embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 13(a) and 13(b) a dashboard 410,associated with a situational room, is included which allows entitiesand/or people to manipulate messages/events 40 from managedinfrastructure, alerts or events 40.

As a non-limiting example an alert engine 411 receives the events 40 andcreates alerts that are mapped into a matrix “M” of events 40, asillustrated in FIG. 14. As a non-limiting example, Mik is the matrix ofevents 40.

In one embodiment of the situation room 336, as illustrated in FIG. 1.(a) system 10 is provided for creating, and displaying in a dashboarddirected to the system 10 from clustering messages received from themanaged infrastructure 14, also known as the dashboard system for thesituation room 336.

In one embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 14, situation room 336 has adisplay that can be interactive. Situation room 336 can be coupled to orincludes a dashboard design system 412, display computer system 414, anda data system 416.

In one embodiment, system 10 includes dashboard converter logic 420,data range determination logic 432, dashboard component generator 422,external interface logic 424, graphic library 426, and network interfacelogic 428. In one embodiment, the system includes data processingcomputing systems.

In one embodiment, the dashboard file converter logic 419, which as anon-limiting example converts the situations and alerts 40 from system10 from clustering messages received from the managed infrastructure 14data structures and data, to be compatible with or match with theinterface logic 424.

In one embodiment, the logic 419 provides communication between thegraphical dashboard and the problem walls from clustering messagesreceived from the managed infrastructure 14.

The problem walls from clustering messages received from the managedinfrastructure 14 are provided as disclosed above.

In one embodiment, the logic 432, dashboard component generator 422 andthe external interface logic 424 are each used for designing the problemwalls from clustering messages received from the managed infrastructure14.

A dashboard or SWF file can be included that establishes a data range,type of components and the external interface. In one embodiment, thelogic 432 is used for a data range in a spreadsheet associated with thedashboard file used to generate a visual display.

In one embodiment, a dashboard component generator 422 is provided thatallows a user to place problem walls from clustering messages receivedfrom the managed infrastructure 14 components with various attributesonto a canvas. The canvas can be a space where various visual componentsare.

In one embodiment, the user is able to choose components directed toproblem walls from clustering messages received from managedinfrastructure 14 elements from a different components. These can beincluded in a panel and the user can then place them on the canvas inany way that the user desires.

In one embodiment, the components are provided by the client, by thesystem, by third parties, and from third parties. Examples of othercomponents include but are not limited to, graphs, style ofpresentation, additional information, comparisons, trends, artisticelements, text, and the like. In some embodiments, the user, or clientcan select the background, margins, presentation of elements and thelike.

In one embodiment, an external interface logic 424 is provided. Theinterface logic allows a dashboard to provide data ranges, permutations,trends, activities, and the like associated with problem walls fromclustering messages received from the managed infrastructure 14. In oneembodiment, interface logic 424 allows the business application softwareto export application data to be displayed in a dashboard in aninteractive visual format.

In various embodiments, a network interface logic 428 and 430 allows forconnectivity of the dashboard design system 412, display computer system414 and data system 416 to each other, or to public networks. In oneembodiment, a graphical file that has been configured by the computersystem 412 is stored in the data storage system 436. In one embodiment,the graphic file is used for data mapping, both during and after designtime, and can generate the display during a period of execution. Theexternal adapter can be utilized for communication between the datastorage system 436 and the graphical file.

In one embodiment, network interface logics 428 and 430 allow computersystems 412, 414 and 416 to connect to each other and the other computersystems. As a non-limiting example, the network interface logic 428 and430 can be one or more computers or web servers that provide a graphicaluser interface for clients or third parties that access the subsystemsof system 412, 414 or 416 through the Network System or a Network Systemprotocol. The network interface logic 428 and 430 can include otherlogics configured to provide interfaces for other types of devices,including but not limited to mobile devices, server-based computingsystems, and the like.

As a non-limiting example, in one embodiment, the display computersystem 414 includes, network interface logic 430, context viewer system438, data storage system 436 and dashboard display system 440.

In another embodiment, the dashboard display system 440 is included inthe context viewer system 438, and be executed in a machine, one or moredisplay and other computers, with machine-readable storage media, cache,memory, flash drive or internal or external hard drive or in a cloudcomputing environment, non-transitory computer readable media ornon-transmissible computer-readable media, with stored instructionsexecuted by the machine to perform the operations. In one embodiment,the context viewer system 438 is a program product that performs variousprocessing functions. As non-limiting examples, these functions caninclude, receiving data from the data source, preparing data byaggregating, providing access to visualization capabilities, and thelike.

In one embodiment, the data storage system 436 stores data related toproblem walls from clustering messages received from the managedinfrastructure 14 applications executed on the display computer system414.

In one embodiment, the data storage system 436 stores problem walls fromclustering messages received from the managed infrastructure 14 data orstatistical data. As a non-limiting example, the dashboard displaysystem 440 communicates with the display computer system 414 to displayproblem walls from clustering messages received from managedinfrastructure 14 data in a dashboard in a visual manner or in visualcomponents using graphics. Displaying problem walls from clusteringmessages received from managed infrastructure 14 data graphically mayinclude displaying bar graphs and/or pie charts or other visualdisplays. In order to generate the dashboard display, the client can mapdashboard data fields to the problem walls from clustering messagesreceived from managed infrastructure 14 data fields. This allows accessof data from problem walls from clustering messages received frommanaged infrastructure 14 without data replication.

Embodiments of the data storage system 436 may store a variety ofinformation including application data in database 430. The applicationdata database 430 may receive data from the data system 416. The datastorage system 436 may provide data to the context viewer system 438.More specifically, the data storage system 436 may provide data to thedata aggregation logic 442. The data storage system 436 may receiveappropriate data mapping instructions from the data mapping logic 444and query the data system 416 to correlate the data from one mappedfield in the dashboard tool to the mapped fields in the application data446.

Embodiments of the dashboard display system 440 may be provided on thedisplay computer system 414. In an example embodiment, the dashboarddisplay system 440 may transfer data from various data sources or datafrom various applications to external data ranges of the graphic fileand display the graphical interface during runtime operations. Thedashboard display system 440 may include all of the features discussedabove with regard to the dashboard design system 412. Also, thedashboard display system 440 also includes a dashboard execution logic448 and external interface logic 450. The external interface logic 450may have similar features as the external interface logic 424 of thedashboard design system 412. The external interface logic 450 may exposeselected data ranges of the dashboard to the business software data. Theexternal interface logic 450 may allow the business application softwareto export application data to be displayed in the dashboard in a visualformat instead of a textual format. During runtime when displaying thedashboard in the business application, the dashboard execution logic 448is configured to receive the data from the business application andgenerate a Flash Island interactive display as designed by the dashboarddesign system 412 or dashboard display system 440.

The data system 416 includes an application logic 452 and applicationdata 446. The data system 416 may be configured to provide data andcommunicate with the display computer system 414. The application logic452 is the server side of the application that provides back endinformation to the context viewer system 438. For example, theapplication logic 452 may comprise an Enterprise Resource Planning(ERP), Customer Relation Management (CRM) or Business Intelligence (BI)system. Business intelligence may refer to computer-based techniquesused to analyze business data, such as sales revenue by products and/ordepartments or associated costs and incomes. The application data 446may include relational or other types of databases. The application data446 includes various fields that may be mapped to the fields exposed bythe external dashboard interface.

FIG. 14 is an example process that may be implemented using the systemshown in FIG. 13. Initially, at step 454, in an example embodiment adashboard design user may build a dashboard using a dashboard buildingsoftware. The dashboard design user may configure the dashboard duringdesign time. In an example embodiment, design time may include thedesign user configuring the dashboard layout and exposing a related datarange. The dashboard design system 412 may be used to create a dashboardlayout. Building the dashboard includes placing components on the canvasand configuring the properties associated with those components. Asdiscussed above, the components may be among other components, a chartor graph. At step 456, the dashboard design user may determine andspecify using a graphical user interface the data ranges for thedashboard. After creating the dashboard, at step 458, the dashboard maybe exported automatically or by input from the dashboard design user toa SWF file format. Steps 454, 456 and 458 may be performed by thedashboard design user using the dashboard configuration system 412. Thisis then communicated to a client community system at steps 460, 462 and464.

A business user may perform the other steps of FIG. 15 by using thedisplay computer system 414. In an example embodiment, the businessuser's steps may be performed during runtime. In this embodiment,runtime includes displaying of the dashboard in a business applicationusing data from business application data sources. In anotherembodiment, the business user may perform the steps described above withregard to the dashboard design user.

At step 460, the business user may open the context viewer system wherethe business user may select a chart view 498 as shown in FIG. 16. Inthe chart view tab, the business user may assign the dashboard or SWF®file to a query view by specifying the location of the file. At step462, the dashboard data ranges that were determined at step 456 may bemapped to query view fields.

In an example embodiment, the data from the data source 436 (or 416) isplaced in the mapped location in the dashboard. In another exampleembodiment, the mapping between application data and graphical interfacedata may identify which application data may be shown in the reservedplaceholder of the dashboard. After mapping the data ranges, at step 464the dashboard may be displayed in the business application. In oneembodiment the business application may be software applications thatprovide various functionalities such as, customer relationshipmanagement, enterprise resource management, product lifecyclemanagement, supply chain management and supplier relationshipmanagement. In another embodiment, the dashboard may be configured toreceive data from the data system 416 after the mapping has occurred orthe data may be accessed during runtime.

FIG. 18 is an example software architecture that may be implementedusing the system in FIG. 14. The software architecture diagram shown inFIG. 17 shows various software layers, such as, graphic player 466,component Dynamic HTML or Java® Script 468, and Server (Java® or Java®based or other high level programming language based) 470 layers. Inparticular, the generic adapter 472 may be built with the Flash Islandlibrary, which may facilitate the client-side communication between HTMLand JavaScript® The Dynamic HTML 468 may load the generated dashboard ina graphic file, or Flash/SWF representation. The generic adapter 472 mayconvert the Java® context into structures that match the dashboard'sexternal interface format or the dashboard format. The generic adapter472 allows the business user to generate a dashboard in a businessanalytic software using the most updated data from a data source withoutwriting any customized software. The generic adapter 472 may loaddashboard data ranges and convert the associated data into an XML®string that may be used for further conversion into an ABAP® string,which may be used by the business analytic software.

In another embodiment, FIG. 17, the generic adapter 472 may convert theFlash Island properties into dashboard structures. In an exampleembodiment, the generic adapter 472 may be used to load externaldashboard ranges during the configuration stage, at step 462. In thisembodiment, the generic adapter 472 may push application data to thedata ranges defined in step 462. In another embodiment, the genericadapter 472 may provide an application programming interface between thegraphic player 466 and the server 470. The generic adapter 472 may loaddashboard ranges automatically and the dashboard data ranges may beconverted into XML strings. The XML string may be converted into Java®or ABAP® code which may be executed by the business application 474, todisplay a dashboard. The server 470 may include NetWeaver®, ABAP® orJava® language programming and the server may include various systemsthat are supported in the business software suit, the runtime 382,application 474, database 476 and business intelligence application 478.In another embodiment, the functionality of the server 470 may beimplemented by the display computing system 414. In yet anotherembodiment the functionality of server 470 may be divided between thedisplay computing system 414 and data system 416. In another embodiment,the graphic player 466 may be implemented on the dashboard design system412. Additionally or alternatively, the functionality of the graphicplayer 466 may be implemented on the display computing system 414.

FIG. 19 shows a screen display 480 of the dashboard designer that may beused to design a dashboard display according to the system shown in FIG.12. The dashboard designer may be executed by the dashboard designsystem 412. The dashboard may be created on the canvas 482. A dashboarddesign user may place the components from the component panel on thecanvas 482. As shown in FIG. 19, the canvas 482 has a bar graph 484 anda pie chart 486 that are displayed in this example dashboard. Thedashboard 480 shown in FIG. 19 is using example data from thespreadsheet shown at the bottom of FIG. 19. For example, the labels ofthe bar graph “Incorrect labeling”, “Wrong component” and “Materialdefects” are from the spreadsheet shown below. In particular, the cellrange from B4 to D5 440 was selected as input into the properties of thebar graph and the pie chart. Next, the data in the bar graph and the piechart is received from cell range B5 to D5. In order to generate thisdashboard the dashboard design user may associate various data fieldswith particular component properties.

FIG. 18 is a screen display of the dashboard external interface that canpermit another software program to access the dashboard controls anddisplay. The external interface connection 488 may allow data from theapplication system to be passed to a cell range of the dashboard or SWFfile, using push technology. During the execution of the dashboard orruntime, data may be pushed or sent from the data source, based on themapping, to the dashboard. In this embodiment, the data may betransferred in tabular form across an interface. In another embodimentthe external interface connection 488 may allow the use of pulltechnology, where the data is pulled by the context viewer system 438.In another embodiment, during the configuration of the dashboard whenthe “Generate XC Fields” button is clicked, the defined data ranges willbe pulled to the system 450, for example in FIG. 16. The externalinterface connection 488 may be configured using a definition tab 490,range name 492, range type, range 494 and access type properties.External interface connections allow a dashboard design user to exposeselected data ranges relating to the dashboard display. The range name492 is shown as Labels and the range 494 being assigned. “Table1!$B$4:$D$4” which is the cell range from B4 to D4. In this exampleembodiment, the labels from B4 to D4 will be used for mapping the Labelsfield. After specifying the data range, the dashboard design user mayexport the dashboard as a file, the file may be executed by varioussoftware programs including business software.

FIG. 16 is a screen display that allows a user to choose a chart view inorder to display a dashboard. In particular, the query view 496 is partof the context viewer application and includes various data types from abusiness analytics database. If the user chooses to view a chart, theuser may select the chart view 498. After a user selects the chart view498 then the user may be presented with a screen shown in FIG. 20.

FIG. 20 is an example screen display showing the data mapping for thedashboard configuration screen. Screen 510 shows a user interface wherethe user may select (using a pull down menu) the type of technology 512the user plans to use for the chart view display. Here, the user mayselect the type of dashboard file that was created as the technology.Next, the file path 514 of the exported dashboard or SWF file may bespecified. After choosing a SWF file, the user may select the “Uploadfile to repository” button in order to save a graphic file (SWF file) inthe system 138. After selecting button “Generate XC Fields”, may be thename of the dashboard external data ranges (e.g. “Damages” and “Labels”in FIG. 18). In the mapping shown in FIG. 18, the user may enter orbrowse for the name of data source (Query ID). For example, the Query IDshown in this example is “ZOK_QN”. This entry is mapped against the datasource that may be stored in the application data 146. The user maysearch for the Query Field ID, which is a specific field of data sourceQuery ID (e.g. field “CODE TEXT” of Query ID “ZOK_QN” in the providedexample). Creating this mapping allows the dashboard to utilize the datain the application data 446 or 430. As can be appreciated thatprogramming in a textual or visual manner is not required and the usermay create the dashboard, export the dashboard, map the fields anddisplay the dashboard as shown in FIG. 21 using a graphical userinterface that responds to a pointing device (e.g. mouse, pen or displaydevice that is sensitive to touch or ocular movement).

FIG. 21 is an example screen display showing the graphical display ofthe data using the dashboard configuration from FIGS. 19 and 20. FIG. 21shows a dashboard 516 that includes the bar graph 518 and pie chart 520.The labels and the value data in the bar and the pie charts 518 and 520are from the business software and are different than the data used inFIG. 19. Therefore, the user can create a display of a dashboard inanother application by using an external connection that may expose datafields to permit the visualization of any type of data.

The embodiments refer to a dashboard that may be a web-based or othertechnology based display on which real time data is collated, processedand displayed from multiple data sources that belong to one or morebusinesses. Other terms that may be used to describe a dashboard,include, digital dashboard, enterprise dashboard, business dashboard,executive dashboard, operational dashboard, BI dashboard, databasedashboard, Web dashboard, performance dashboard, score card, KPIdashboard, metrics dashboard and so on. Dashboards may be designed tohelp any user monitor what's happening or has happened in the pastvisually or at a glance. Dashboards may provide the user a means torapidly monitor the current status. Accordingly, dashboards must bedesigned to take advantage of the strengths of visual perception,cognition and work around or augment the user's weaknesses.

Embodiments can include a system for displaying data stored on computerreadable non-transitory media. The system configured to access one ormore data fields within a file. The file having been configured using anexternal connection adapter. The system may include a display computersystem configured to map the accessed one or more data fields to datafrom one or more data sources, the mapping being performed based on auser input via a graphical user interface. In this embodiment, thesystem may be configured to display on the display computer system adashboard according to the configuration setting stored in the file, thedashboard may show a graphical representation of the data from the oneor more data sources and information from the one or more data fields.

In another embodiment, the dashboard includes dashboard display systemthat processes the data from the one or more data sources and displays avisual representation of the data in a graph or chart form.Alternatively or additionally, the dashboard includes a component thatis modified by using a graphical user interface such that the dashboarddisplay or components are modified.

In another embodiment, the file is generated by a first software programlocated in the dashboard design system that is configured to generatethe dashboard. The display computing system may further compriseexecuting a second software program on the display computer system toretrieve the data from the one or more data sources and displaying thedashboard. The display computing system may include converting, using ageneric adapter, the data from the one or more data sources into datastructures that are compatible with a format of the graphic file.

In another embodiment the data is converted from the one or more datasources into data structures that are compatible with a format of thefile using the external connection adapter. The file can be a short webformat file that exposes one or more data fields that may be mapped tofields in one or more data sources. In another embodiment, the mappingmay occur via a graphical user interface free of receiving textualprogramming code from the user.

In another embodiment, a computer-implemented method is stored on acomputer readable media. Visualization software is integrated with adata processing application that includes configuring a dashboarddisplay using a dashboard design system. The dashboard display can useone or more first data ranges from a spreadsheet as example data. Anexternal connection adapter can be used to provide access to one or morefirst data ranges that are to be displayed in the dashboard display.

In other embodiments, the dashboard display is exported in a graphicfile format. In certain embodiments, one or more first data ranges areaccessed from the dashboard display using a display computing system. Inone embodiment, one or more first data ranges are connected to one ormore second data ranges from one or more data sources. The dashboard candisplay using data from the one or more second data ranges.

In one embodiment, the dashboard displays with the problem walls fromclustering messages received from managed infrastructure 14 data can usea graphical user interface that is free from receiving textual ortextual programming code from the client. In this embodiment the methodmay include processing place problem walls from clustering messagesreceived from managed infrastructure 14 from the one or more datasources and displaying a visual representation of the data in a graph orchart form. This can include a method that includes a component that maybe modified by using a graphical user interface that results in amodification of the dashboard display.

In one embodiment, a method is provided that includes a dashboarddisplay generated by a first software program that generates a visualdisplay. This can include, executing a second software program on thedisplay computer system to retrieve the data from the one or more datasources and displaying the dashboard and the method may includeconverting, using a generic adapter, the data from the one or more datasources into data structures that are compatible with a format of thefile.

In one embodiment, the exporting can include converting the placeproblem walls from clustering messages received from managedinfrastructure 14 data from the one or more second data sources intodata structures that are compatible with the graphic file format. In oneembodiment, this can include converting using an external interfaceadapter. A graphic file format can be a short web format that allowssoftware to access the one or more first data ranges.

In another embodiment, a user interface system has an externalconnection adapter configured to provide access to one or more datafields within a file. As a non-limiting example, this can include adisplay computer system that maps using a graphical user interface theone or more data fields to data from one or more data sources. Thedisplay computer system can generate a dashboard display from aconfiguration in the file. In one embodiment, the display includes placeproblem walls from clustering messages received from managedinfrastructure 14 data from one or more data sources and informationfrom one or more data fields. A graphical user interface can be providedthat is free of receiving textual programming code from the user.

In one embodiment, a first software executed on a display computersystem that generates the dashboard in a visual graphic display. Asecond software program can be included to execute on the displaycomputer system and retrieve the data from the one or more data sourcesand display the dashboard display. A generic adapter can be utilized toconvert the data from the one or more data sources into one or more datastructures that are compatible with a format of the file.

In one embodiment, a graphical user interface can modify a component andthis can be used to modify the dashboard display.

In one embodiment, an external connection adapter converts the data fromthe one or more data sources into data structures that are compatiblewith a format of the file using the external connection adapter.

The logics can be machine-readable media for carrying or havemachine-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Themachine-readable media can be any available media that may be accessedby a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with aprocessor. As a non-limiting example, a variety of machine-readablemedia can be utilized, including but not limited to: RAM, ROM, EPROM,EEPROM. CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage orother magnetic storage devices, non-transitory computer readable mediaor non-transmissible computer-readable media or any other medium whichmay be used to carry or store desired program code in the form ofmachine-executable instructions or data structures and which may beaccessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or othermachine with a processor. With the dashboard system, any such type ofconnection is termed a machine-readable medium. It will be appreciatedthat the machine-readable medium can include combinations of thepreceding.

As non-limiting examples, with the dashboard system, machine-executableinstructions can be: instructions and data which cause a general purposecomputer, special purpose computer, or special purpose processingmachines to perform a certain function or group of functions, and thelike.

The dashboard system can be implemented by a program product includingmachine-executable instructions, such as program code. As a non-limitingexample, this can be program modules executed by machines in networkedenvironments. As non-limiting examples, the program modules can includeroutines, programs, objects, components, data structures, and the like,that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract datatypes. As non-limiting examples the dashboard system can utilize,machine-executable instructions, associated data structures, and programmodules as program code for executing steps of the methods disclosedherein.

As non-limiting examples, the dashboard system can be executed in anetworked environment using logical connections to one or more remotecomputers having processors. AS non-limiting examples, suitable networkcomputing environments can be, computers, including personal computers,mobile devices, multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based orprogrammable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframecomputers, and the like.

In certain embodiments, the dashboard system can be executed indistributed computing environments where tasks are performed by localand remote processing devices that are linked. As non-limiting examples,the linking can be by, hardwired links, wireless links, combination ofhardwired or wireless links, and the like, through a communicationsnetwork. In one embodiment, computing environment, program modules maybe located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

As a non-limiting example, one embodiment of a system for implementingthe overall system or portions of the embodiments can include a generalpurpose computing computers in the form of computers, including aprocessing unit, a system memory or database, and a system bus thatcouples various system components including the system memory to theprocessing unit. The database or system memory cam include read onlymemory (ROM) and random access memory (RAM).

As a non-limiting example, the database can be a magnetic hard diskdrive for reading from and writing to a magnetic hard disk, a magneticdisk drive for reading from or writing to a removable magnetic disk, andan optical disk drive for reading from or writing to a removable opticaldisk such as a CD ROM or other optical media, and the like.

As a non-limiting example, the drives and their associatedmachine-readable media can be used to provide nonvolatile storage ofmachine-executable instructions, data structures, program modules andother data for the computer. It should also be noted that the word“terminal” as used herein is intended to encompass computer input andoutput devices. User interfaces, as described herein may include acomputer with monitor, keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, joystick or otherinput devices performing a similar function.

Referring to FIGS. 22 through 24, the mobile or computing device caninclude a display that can be a touch sensitive display. Thetouch-sensitive display is sometimes called a “touch screen” forconvenience, and may also be known as or called a touch-sensitivedisplay system. The mobile or computing device may include a memory(which may include one or more computer readable storage mediums), amemory controller, one or more processing units (CPU's), a peripheralsinterface. Network Systems circuitry, including but not limited to RFcircuitry, audio circuitry, a speaker, a microphone, an input/output(I/O) subsystem, other input or control devices, and an external port.The mobile or computing device may include one or more optical sensors.These components may communicate over one or more communication buses orsignal lines.

It should be appreciated that the mobile or computing device is only oneexample of a portable multifunction mobile or computing device, and thatthe mobile or computing device may have more or fewer components thanshown, may combine two or more components, or a may have a differentconfiguration or arrangement of the components. The various componentsshown in FIG. 21 may be implemented in hardware, software or acombination of hardware and software, including one or more signalprocessing and/or application specific integrated circuits.

Memory may include high-speed random access memory and may also includenon-volatile memory, such as one or more magnetic disk storage devices,flash memory devices, or other non-volatile solid-state memory devices.Access to memory by other components of the mobile or computing device,such as the CPU and the peripherals interface, may be controlled by thememory controller.

The peripherals interface couples the input and output peripherals ofthe device to the CPU and memory. The one or more processors run orexecute various software programs and/or sets of instructions stored inmemory to perform various functions for the mobile or computing deviceand to process data.

In some embodiments, the peripherals interface, the CPU, and the memorycontroller may be implemented on a single chip, such as a chip. In someother embodiments, they may be implemented on separate chips.

The Network System circuitry receives and sends signals, including butnot limited to RF, also called electromagnetic signals. The NetworkSystem circuitry converts electrical signals to/from electromagneticsignals and communicates with communications networks and othercommunications devices via the electromagnetic signals. The NetworkSystems circuitry may include well-known circuitry for performing thesefunctions, including but not limited to an antenna system, an RFtransceiver, one or more amplifiers, a tuner, one or more oscillators, adigital signal processor, a CODEC chipset, a subscriber identity module(SIM) card, memory, and so forth. The Network Systems circuitry maycommunicate with networks, such as the Internet, also referred to as theWorld Wide Web (WWW), an intranet and/or a wireless network, such as acellular telephone network, a wireless local area network (LAN) and/or ametropolitan area network (MAN), and other devices by wirelesscommunication.

The wireless communication may use any of a plurality of communicationsstandards, protocols and technologies, including but not limited toGlobal System for Mobile Communications (GSM). Enhanced Data GSMEnvironment (EDGE), high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA), widebandcode division multiple access (W-CDMA), code division multiple access(CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), BLUETOOTH®, WirelessFidelity (Wi-Fi) (e.g., IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b. IEEE 802.11g and/orIEEE 802.11n), voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), Wi-MAX, a protocolfor email (e.g., Internet message access protocol (IMAP) and/or postoffice protocol (POP)), instant messaging (e.g., extensible messagingand presence protocol (XMPP), Session Initiation Protocol for InstantMessaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions (SIMPLE), and/or InstantMessaging and Presence Service (IMPS)), and/or Short Message Service(SMS)), or any other suitable communication protocol, includingcommunication protocols not yet developed as of the filing date of thisdocument.

The audio circuitry, the speaker, and the microphone provide an audiointerface between a user and the mobile or computing device. The audiocircuitry receives audio data from the peripherals interface, convertsthe audio data to an electrical signal, and transmits the electricalsignal to the speaker. The speaker converts the electrical signal tohuman-audible sound waves. The audio circuitry also receives electricalsignals converted by the microphone from sound waves. The audiocircuitry converts the electrical signal to audio data and transmits theaudio data to the peripherals interface for processing. Audio data maybe retrieved from and/or transmitted to memory and/or the NetworkSystems circuitry by the peripherals interface. In some embodiments, theaudio circuitry also includes a headset jack (FIG. 20). The headset jackprovides an interface between the audio circuitry and removable audioinput/output peripherals, such as output-only headphones or a headsetwith both output (e.g., a headphone for one or both ears) and input(e.g., a microphone).

The I/O subsystem couples input/output peripherals on the mobile orcomputing device, such as the touch screen and other input/controldevices, to the peripherals interface. The I/O subsystem may include adisplay controller and one or more input controllers for other input orcontrol devices. The one or more input controllers 1 receive/sendelectrical signals from/to other input or control devices. The otherinput/control devices may include physical buttons (e.g., push buttons,rocker buttons, etc.), dials, slider switches, and joysticks, clickwheels, and so forth. In some alternate embodiments, input controller(s)may be coupled to any (or none) of the following: a keyboard, infraredport, USB port, and a pointer device such as a mouse. The one or morebuttons may include an up/down button for volume control of the speakerand/or the microphone. The one or more buttons may include a pushbutton. A quick press of the push button may disengage a lock of thetouch screen or begin a process that uses gestures on the touch screento unlock the device, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/322,549, “Unlocking a Device by Performing Gestures on an UnlockImage.” filed Dec. 23, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by referencein its entirety. A longer press of the push button may turn power to themobile or computing device on or off. The user may be able to customizea functionality of one or more of the buttons. The touch screen is usedto implement virtual or soft buttons and one or more soft keyboards.

The touch-sensitive touch screen provides an input interface and anoutput interface between the device and a user. The display controllerreceives and/or sends electrical signals from/to the touch screen. Thetouch screen displays visual output to the user. The visual output mayinclude graphics, text, icons, video, and any combination thereof(collectively termed “graphics”). In some embodiments, some or all ofthe visual output may correspond to user-interface objects, furtherdetails of which are described below.

A touch screen has a touch-sensitive surface, sensor or set of sensorsthat accepts input from the user based on haptic and/or tactile contact.The touch screen and the display controller (along with any associatedmodules and/or sets of instructions in memory) detect contact (and anymovement or breaking of the contact) on the touch screen and convertsthe detected contact into interaction with user-interface objects (e.g.,one or more soft keys, icons, web pages or images) that are displayed onthe touch screen. In an exemplary embodiment, a point of contact betweena touch screen and the user corresponds to a finger of the user.

The touch screen may use LCD (liquid crystal display) technology, or LPD(light emitting polymer display) technology, although other displaytechnologies may be used in other embodiments. The touch screen and thedisplay controller may detect contact and any movement or breakingthereof using any of a plurality of touch sensing technologies now knownor later developed, including but not limited to capacitive, resistive,infrared, and surface acoustic wave technologies, as well as otherproximity sensor arrays or other elements for determining one or morepoints of contact with a touch screen.

A touch-sensitive display in some embodiments of the touch screen may beanalogous to the multi-touch sensitive tablets described in thefollowing U.S. Pat. No. 6,323,846 (Westerman et al.), U.S. Pat. No.6,570,557 (Westerman et al.), and/or U.S. Pat. No. 6,677,932(Westerman), and/or U.S. Patent Publication 2002/0015024A1, each ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. However, atouch screen displays visual output from the portable mobile orcomputing device, whereas touch sensitive tablets do not provide visualoutput.

A touch-sensitive display in some embodiments of the touch screen may beas described in the following applications: (1) U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/381,313, “Multipoint Touch Surface Controller,” filed May12, 2006; (2) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/840,862, “MultipointTouchscreen,” filed May 6, 2004; (3) U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/903,964, “Gestures For Touch Sensitive Input Devices,” filed Jul. 30,2004; (4) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/048,264. “Gestures ForTouch Sensitive Input Devices.” filed Jan. 31, 2005; (5) U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/038,590, “Mode-Based Graphical User InterfacesFor Touch Sensitive Input Devices,” filed Jan. 18, 2005; (6) U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/228,758, “Virtual Input Device Placement On ATouch Screen User Interface.” filed Sep. 16, 2005; (7) U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/228,700. “Operation Of A Computer With A TouchScreen Interface,” filed Sep. 16, 2005; (8) U.S. patent application Ser.No. 11/228,737, “Activating Virtual Keys Of A Touch-Screen VirtualKeyboard,” filed Sep. 16, 2005; and (9) U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/367,749, “Multi-Functional Hand-Held Device,” filed Mar. 3, 2006. Allof these applications are incorporated by reference herein in theirentirety.

The touch screen may have a resolution in excess of 1000 dpi. In anexemplary embodiment, the touch screen has a resolution of approximately1060 dpi. The user may make contact with the touch screen using anysuitable object or appendage, such as a stylus, a finger, and so forth.In some embodiments, the user interface is designed to work primarilywith finger-based contacts and gestures, which are much less precisethan stylus-based input due to the larger area of contact of a finger onthe touch screen. In some embodiments, the device translates the roughfinger-based input into a precise pointer/cursor position or command forperforming the actions desired by the user.

In some embodiments, in addition to the touch screen, the mobile orcomputing device may include a touchpad (not shown) for activating ordeactivating particular functions. In some embodiments, the touchpad isa touch-sensitive area of the device that, unlike the touch screen, doesnot display visual output. The touchpad may be a touch-sensitive surfacethat is separate from the touch screen or an extension of thetouch-sensitive surface formed by the touch screen.

In some embodiments, the mobile or computing device may include aphysical or virtual click wheel as an input control device. A user maynavigate among and interact with one or more graphical objects(henceforth referred to as icons) displayed in the touch screen byrotating the click wheel or by moving a point of contact with the clickwheel (e.g., where the amount of movement of the point of contact ismeasured by its angular displacement with respect to a center point ofthe click wheel). The click wheel may also be used to select one or moreof the displayed icons. For example, the user may press down on at leasta portion of the click wheel or an associated button. User commands andnavigation commands provided by the user via the click wheel may beprocessed by an input controller as well as one or more of the modulesand/or sets of instructions in memory. For a virtual click wheel, theclick wheel and click wheel controller may be part of the touch screenand the display controller, respectively. For a virtual click wheel, theclick wheel may be either an opaque or semitransparent object thatappears and disappears on the touch screen display in response to userinteraction with the device. In some embodiments, a virtual click wheelis displayed on the touch screen of a portable multifunction device andoperated by user contact with the touch screen.

The mobile or computing device also includes a power system for poweringthe various components. The power system may include a power managementsystem, one or more power sources (e.g., battery, alternating current(AC)), a recharging system, a power failure detection circuit, a powerconverter or inverter, a power status indicator (e.g., a light-emittingdiode (LED)) and any other components associated with the generation,management and distribution of power in portable devices.

The mobile or computing device may also include one or more sensors,including not limited to optical sensors. FIG. 30 illustrates how anoptical sensor coupled to an optical sensor controller in I/O subsystem.The optical sensor may include charge-coupled device (CCD) orcomplementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) phototransistors. Theoptical sensor receives light from the environment, projected throughone or more lens, and converts the light to data representing an image.In conjunction with an imaging module 58 (also called a camera module);the optical sensor may capture still images or video. In someembodiments, an optical sensor is located on the back of the mobile orcomputing device, opposite the touch screen display on the front of thedevice, so that the touch screen display may be used as a viewfinder foreither still and/or video image acquisition. In some embodiments, anoptical sensor is located on the front of the device so that the user'simage may be obtained for videoconferencing while the user views theother video conference participants on the touch screen display. In someembodiments, the position of the optical sensor can be changed by theuser (e.g., by rotating the lens and the sensor in the device housing)so that a single optical sensor may be used along with the touch screendisplay for both video conferencing and still and/or video imageacquisition.

The mobile or computing device may also include one or more proximitysensors. In one embodiment, the proximity sensor is coupled to theperipherals interface. Alternately, the proximity sensor may be coupledto an input controller in the I/O subsystem. The proximity sensor mayperform as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/241,839,“Proximity Detector In Handheld Device.” filed Sep. 30, 2005; Ser. No.11/240,788. “Proximity Detector In Handheld Device.” filed Sep. 30,2005; Ser. No. 13/096,386. “Using Ambient Light Sensor To AugmentProximity Sensor Output”; Ser. No. 13/096,386, “Automated Response ToAnd Sensing Of User Activity In Portable Devices.” filed Oct. 24, 2006;and Ser. No. 11/638,251, “Methods And Systems For AutomaticConfiguration Of Peripherals,” which are hereby incorporated byreference in their entirety. In some embodiments, the proximity sensorturns off and disables the touch screen when the multifunction device isplaced near the user's ear (e.g., when the user is making a phone call).In some embodiments, the proximity sensor keeps the screen off when thedevice is in the user's pocket, purse, or other dark area to preventunnecessary battery drainage when the device is a locked state.

In some embodiments, the software components stored in memory mayinclude an operating system, a communication module (or set ofinstructions), a contact/motion module (or set of instructions), agraphics module (or set of instructions), a text input module (or set ofinstructions), a Global Positioning System (GPS) module (or set ofinstructions), and applications (or set of instructions).

The operating system (e.g., Darwin, RTXC, LINUX, UNIX, OS X, WINDOWS, oran embedded operating system such as VxWorks) includes various softwarecomponents and/or drivers for controlling and managing general systemtasks (e.g., memory management, storage device control, powermanagement, etc.) and facilitates communication between various hardwareand software components.

The communication module facilitates communication with other devicesover one or more external ports and also includes various softwarecomponents for handling data received by the Network Systems circuitryand/or the external port. The external port (e.g., Universal Serial Bus(USB), FIREWIRE, etc.) is adapted for coupling directly to other devicesor indirectly over a network (e.g., the Internet, wireless LAN, etc.).In some embodiments, the external port is a multi-pin (e.g., 30-pin)connector that is the same as, or similar to and/or compatible with the30-pin connector used on iPod (trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.)devices.

The contact/motion module may detect contact with the touch screen (inconjunction with the display controller) and other touch sensitivedevices (e.g., a touchpad or physical click wheel). The contact/motionmodule includes various software components for performing variousoperations related to detection of contact, such as determining ifcontact has occurred, determining if there is movement of the contactand tracking the movement across the touch screen, and determining ifthe contact has been broken (i.e., if the contact has ceased).Determining movement of the point of contact may include determiningspeed (magnitude), velocity (magnitude and direction), and/or anacceleration (a change in magnitude and/or direction) of the point ofcontact. These operations may be applied to single contacts (e.g., onefinger contacts) or to multiple simultaneous contacts (e.g.,“multitouch”/multiple finger contacts). In some embodiments, thecontact/motion module and the display controller also detect contact ona touchpad. In some embodiments, the contact/motion module and thecontroller detects contact on a click wheel.

Examples of other applications that may be stored in memory includeother word processing applications, JAVA-enabled applications,encryption, digital rights management, voice recognition, and voicereplication.

In conjunction with touch screen, display controller, contact module,graphics module, and text input module, a contacts module may be used tomanage an address book or contact list, including: adding name(s) to theaddress book; deleting name(s) from the address book; associatingtelephone number(s), e-mail address(es), physical address(es) or otherinformation with a name; associating an image with a name; categorizingand sorting names; providing telephone numbers or e-mail addresses toinitiate and/or facilitate communications by telephone, videoconference, e-mail, or IM; and so forth.

In one embodiment a feedback signalizer functor is provided that is asignalizing event analyzer which responds to user interactions withalready formed situations. It then learns how to replicate the samesituation when new alerts reoccur, or, creates similar situations. Inone embodiment the feedback signalizer functor is a supervised machinelearning approach to train a signalizer functor to reproduce a situationat varying degrees of precision. As a non-limiting example, this isaccomplished by the use of neural networks, in particular a feed forwardneural net with the standard configuration of an input layer,configurable hidden layers. This can be considered as deep learning witha single output layer. In one embodiment the use case being addressed bythe feedback signalizer functor is to respond to a configurable set ofqueues to learn and unlearn situations. In one embodiment the feedbacksignalizer functor is configured to run in farmd.

In one embodiment the feedback signalizer functor listens on the sigjournal topic for audited actions on a situation. These actions arecollected together into a set of collections of actions, configurable intwo parameters: learn_queues and unlearn_queues. As a non-limitingexample the following example configuration defines the actions forlearn_queues and unlearn_queues:

learn_queues

-   -   :[“manual_create”,“merge_create”,“split_create”, “annotated”,        “diagnosed”,“closed”,“r efin ed”],

manual_create, the creation of a situation where alerts are broughttogether in a situation.

merge_create is the creation of a new situation by merging twosituations. The learn_queue is on the created situation, not on the twosituations that are merged together.

split_create is when you create a new situation by splitting an existingsituation, and it is the created situations that are learnt.

annotated is any addition to either a discussion thread or comment, or,the setting of a situation description.

diagnosed indicates a tool has run.

closed relates to whether a situation is closed or resolved.

refined is when alerts are added to or removed alerts from a situation.

unlearn_queues: [“split” ].

If this action is taken on a given situation, the neural net, which iscreated by the learn_queues for the situation is discarded. Any actioncan be either a learn queue or an unlearn queue.

In one embodiment as part of the feedback signalizer functor a smallJava library, neural, exists to encapsulate the neural network. Theneural network takes an alert as its input. When a situation is learned,the collection of alerts in that situation is presented to the neuralnetwork, which then learns the contents of the situation. In oneembodiment the neural network can be configured by selecting anyattribute of an alert as shown in the following example configuration:

inputs: [“source”,“description”,“severity”,“manager” ],

In one embodiment if the element of an alert is not a string, it isconverted to a string for consideration in the neural network. In oneembodiment the neural network is set up to have an input node for eachattribute of an alert. In one embodiment a brain configuration sectionis used to set up the precise characteristics of the neural network thatis used to learn the situation. The following is a non-limiting exampleof how this can be achieved:

neurons: 7,

layers: 2,

learning_rate: 0.1.

activation_func: “Hyperbolic”,

epochs: 500,

precision: 0.92,

exact_match: false

where:

neurons provide the number of neuron's in the hidden layer. The neuralnetwork created by neurons with a value of 7 is shown in figure one.

Epochs, precision and exact match relate to the number of times anetwork is trained which is the process of presenting the alerts andthen back propagating and adjusting the network configuration to achieve1.0 and −1.0 as the output layer, epochs is the maximum number ofiterations that you will back propagate against a single alert to tryand achieve the stated precision. In the embodiment above it is 0.92. Asa non-limiting example this would be trained if, presenting an alert tothe neural network gave a value of 0.92 on the True and −0.92 on theFalse. It will iterate until completed, and only terminate the iterationon meeting the error goal, or, exceeding the number of epochs oriteration steps. Exact match parameter is a technical override to theneural network meaning that an alert, which is not used for training,does not provide a positive value for inclusion. In this embodimentbecause it does not provide a positive value it is clustered. A perfectrecall of all the alerts is not achieved. As a non-limiting example,exact_match can provide 100% precision and it can also have less than100% recall.

Precision is the number of true positives divided by the total number oftrue positives and false positives. As a non-limiting example when thereare nine alerts in the situation that were part of the training, and onealert is not part of the training, the precision is 0.9 (9 dived by(9+1). The number of alerts divided by the number of alerts that shouldhave received in the situation. As a non-limiting example, when it istrained on five alerts and four alerts are received in the situation,the recall is 80% or 0.8.

Learning Rate is key configurations in the training. In this example thelearning rate is set at 0.1, and controls how fast the neural networkconverges on training

An activation_function can be “Sigmoid”, “Hyperbolic” or “Sine” and isnot case sensitive. It changes the function used to propagate the valueof a neuron to the next layer, by choosing between functions 2, 3 and 4in the equation below.

In one embodiment if an alert is a member of a situation the neuralnetwork takes the alert input for the alert and it is passed through theneural network. As a non-limiting example in classic back propagationtraining the value of the True output node is optimized to 1.0 and thefalse output node is −1.0.

FIG. 25 illustrates one embodiment of a network, which as a non-limitingexample is a neural network 310. As a non-limiting example every inputlayer is connected to every neuron on a first hidden layer. Every neuronon a hidden layer is connected to neurons on the next hidden layer, andevery neuron on the last layer is connected to both True and False. Theconnections are a function that takes the numerical value submitted tothe neuron and converts it into a value that it propagates onto the nextneuron up the layer as follows:

$\begin{matrix}{{{output}({neuron})} = {\sum\limits_{inputs}\;{w_{i} \times {input}_{i}}}} & (1) \\{{f(x)} = {1.0 - \frac{1}{1 - {\exp\left( {- {{output}({neuron})}} \right)}}}} & (2) \\{{f(x)} = {\tanh\left( {{output}({neuron})} \right)}} & (3) \\{{f(x)} = {\sin\left( {{output}({neuron})} \right)}} & (4)\end{matrix}$

In one embodiment The value of the neuron is equal to the sum of aweight factor times the input value from the (ith) input node, or,proceeding layer input node equals the value of the neuron. This valueis passed to a function that propagates up to the next layer in theneural net.

As a non-limiting example for the activation function, activation_func,there can be three choices: Sigmoid, a standard function that is oneminus the exponential of the value of the neuron; Hyperbolic, that usesthe hyperbolic tangent, or, tan h of the value, which passes it on, and,Sine that uses a trigonometric sin of the value. A slight technicalityis that all the neural nets are symmetric as opposed to asymmetric.

The Sigmoid function can sometimes tend to blur values and can be lessprecise than the other two activation functions. The Hyperbolic functionis more likely to resolve similar alerts, and Sine works better withrandom data. In one embodiment if the alerts in a situation that is inthe process of learning the alerts have little similarity, the Sinefunction produces better results when recalling that situation, but isless precise. The Sigmoid function produces better precision but has apoorer recall. In one embodiment a back propagation is standard backpropagation and the learning rate is the small positive constant used toperform the gradient descent method of solving for the weights inEquation 1. In the FIG. 20 embodiment, with four input nodes, two layersof seven, and two output nodes, there are 91 interconnections betweenthe neurons. ((7*7) nodes+(2*7) nodes+(4*7) nodes)=91. In thisembodiment there are 91 weights that characterize the state of theneural network. This can be considered as a form of training bycalculating 91 floating point numbers. In this embodiment a uniquesignature of 91 floating-point numbers are respected as an arbitrarycollection of alerts that for training.

As illustrated in FIG. 26 in one embodiment a floating point unit (FPU)320 performs floating point calculations. In one embodiment floatingpoint arithmetic logic instructions are retrieved from memory of system10 and or 310 that are then stored in a system 10 and or 310 memory. Inone embodiment a BEEFY FPU 320 is used.

In one embodiment the FPU 320 is included in a processor of the system10 and or 310. In one embodiment the FPU 320 is a stand-alone unit apartfor a processor of the system 10 and or 310. In one embodiment the FPU320 executes floating point arithmetic logic instructions by retrievingthem from a memory of the system 10 and or 310. In one embodiment theFPU 320 executes floating point arithmetic logic instructions byretrieving them from a memory of the system 10 and or 310 that are thenstored in one or more system 10 and or 310 memory.

In one embodiment the FPU 320 includes one or more of a: floating pointadder, multiplier and comparator. As a non-limiting example the FPU 320performs one or more of: exponent subtraction; subtraction of theexponents to form an absolute difference |E_a−E_b|=d; alignment;significand addition; addition or subtraction according to an effectiveoperation that is a function of an opcode and the signs of operands;conversion that converts a significand result, when negative, to asignmagnitude representation; leading-one detection; normalization; androunding.

In one embodiment a control unit of a processor carries out storedprogram instructions relative to the FPU 320. In one embodiment thecontrol unit communicates with the ALU and memory. In one embodimentinput signals are propagated through the FPU 320 and a resultingperformed operation is a FPU 320 output. In one embodiment the FPU 320output includes a data word and status information of the event. In oneembodiment the status information is a rating of a significance of theevent.

In one embodiment the input into the neural network is a conversion of astring into a floating-point number because a value between +1.0 and−1.0 is needed at the output layer. In one embodiment this is achievedby using a version of the standard simhash algorithm that is used toconvert a string into a floating-point number and then normalize.Simhash is used where similar items are hashed to similar hash valuesthat is the bitwise hamming distance between hash values.

EXAMPLE 3

  irb(main):003:0> p1.simhash

  851459198 00110010110000000011110001111110 irb(main):004:0> p2.simhash

  847263864 00110010100000000011100001111000 irb(main):002:0> p3.simhash

  984968088 00111010101101010110101110011000

In the preceding the hamming distance of the similar items (p1,p2)=4

whereas (p1,p3)=16 and (p2,p3)=12

The simhash of a phrase is calculated as follow.

   pick a hashsize, let's say 32 bits    let V = [0] * 32 # (i.e. 32zeros)    break the phrase up into features    irb(main):003:0> ‘the catsat on the mat’. shingles    

 #<Set: {“th”, “he”, “e ”, “ c”, “ca”, “at”, “t ”,    “ s”, “sa”, “ o”,“on”, “n ”, “ t”, “ m”, “ma”}>    hash each feature using a normal32-bit hash algorithm    “th”.hash = −502157718    “he”.hash =−369049682    ...    for each hash if biti of hash is set then add 1 toV[i]    if biti of hash is not set then take 1 from V[i]    simhash bitiis 1 if V[i] > 0 and 0 otherwise simhash are useful because if thesimhash bitwise hamming distance of two phrases is low then theirjaccard coefficient is high.

As a non-limiting example the simhash function calculates a 64 bitinteger for a string, which is then normalized, so, the value is between1.0 and −1.0 and created by dividing the smiths value by the max valueof a signed long integer. The simhash function is designed so thatlexicographically similar strings have similar simhash values. Thesimhash algorithm, takes the string, breaks it into individual and pairsof characters, and, then calculates for each of those 2n−1 substrings,an md5 hash for each of the components before going through a process ofprogressive XOR'ing of the md5 hashes together. This culminates in anarray that is used to collapse down into an integer by bit setting.

In one embodiment test and real world data produce good results so thatsimilar strings such as “server6” and “server7” give similar simhashvalues. The neural network provides reliable results against bothartificial and real world data.

As a non-limiting example a standard configuration can be as follows:

name: “Feedback”,

classname: “CFeedback”,

run_on_startup: false,

process_output_of: “AlertBuilder,

membership_limit: 1,

scale_by_severity: false,

entropy_threshold: 0.0,

single_matching: true,

activation_func: “Hyperbolic”

In one embodiment the standard configuration is back-ended to an alertbuilder. It can run in both standalone and in chained mode as it listenson the journal function and retrieves its own data from the database.

In one embodiment the standard configuration is back-ended to an alertbuilder. It can run in both standalone and in chained mode as it listenson the journal function and retrieves its own data from the database.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a user interface 22 isprovided that reduces the number of actions the users and makes it moreminimal.

As a non-limiting example, incident management is managing problemnotifications or events that arise on large computing, application andnetworking infrastructures. A grouping of these is a “situation” whichrepresents a point in time when one or more related events occurred. Inone embodiment it can be composed of a plurality of events.

As a non-limiting example a “situation” is a collection of one or moreevents and alerts representative of a problem in a managedinfrastructure. A grouping of these is a “situation” which represents apoint in time when one or more related events occurred. In oneembodiment it can be composed of a plurality of events.

In one embodiment machine learning is utilized to educate the system.Over a course of time the system learns from prior situations and candiscard things that are not relevant and assists in focusing on theactual things one is looking at in a situation.

In one embodiment a Summary view is provided that provides a high levelview of service outages, as illustrated in FIG. 27. This allows one todive down into situations that have been generated for those services.

In one embodiment the interface allows a high level view of multiplesituations. Situations can be viewed in different configurations,including but not limited to: 1) a tabular list view where situationscan be ordered by different parameters including but not limited tocreation date, moderator, definition or other. FIG. 28. A “Kanban” orworkflow view where situations can be arranged and ordered according totheir state in a workflow process. FIG. 29.

In one embodiment a filtering mechanism is available to reduce andnarrow the number of situations displayed based on desired attributes.

In one embodiment when a situation is generated by the system, a“situation room” is created to contain the situation. A situation isopened and presented in a situation room. The situation room is acollection of all relevant events and alerts that generated thesituation, links and references to people and teams assigned to resolvethe situation, their chat conversations and other information and toolsneeded for situation resolution, as well as post-situation analysis andforensics.

In one embodiment the situation room contains an overview section with a“start here” page to help guide the user through the process ofsituation resolution. This offers up “things to start with”,suggestions, information and tools that can help inexperienced usersbetter understand how to resolve situations. As users become moreexperienced they may choose to turn off the start here page, FIG. 30.

In one embodiment the situation room contains a “feed” view thatdisplays all activity in the situation's life cycle includingmachine-generated and user activities.

In one embodiment users can create “posts” in the activity view byentering text or uploading files into an entry field. The content usersenter is visible to all users of that particular situation room. Anyuser can comment on a post and chat conversations with other membersinvolved with a situation can be conducted.

In one embodiment the entry field also accepts “Chat Ops” commands, andusers can affect the state of a situation by entering machine-recognizedcommands including but not limited to entering commands that resolve thesituation, or close and archive the situation, FIG. 31.

In one embodiment the team or group rooms exist that are organizedaround specific teams or functions. As non-limiting examples the team orgroup room can contain one or more team members and may be organizedaround existing functional teams within an organization, including butnot limited to: network management team room, application performanceteam room, and the like.

Situations can be linked to team rooms and a situation can be linked tomultiple team rooms at the same time.

As a non-limiting example a team room differs from a situation room inthat situation rooms exist for a short term and are archived whenresolved, while team rooms exist and are used for a greater duration andmay be semi-permanent.

As a non-limiting example a team room contains a “feed” view of systemand user activity. Members of the room can create posts that othermembers will see in the feed when they visit the room. When users createa post they can mark it as 1) a question or 2) a tip to solve a problemor 3) a simple text statement. This provides a method for classifyingdifferent types of posts and enables organization, search and filteringfor specific posts.

As a non-limiting example the activity feed can also include systemgenerated events such as recurring calendar events and systemmaintenance announcements (e.g. “The directory service will be offlinetonight from 11:00 PM . . . ”), FIG. 32.

Alerts have multiple parameters which at the simplest level can bebroken into numeric.

In one embodiment system 10 is given events, which can be alerts thatcan include any number of different parameters. Events include one ormore parameters, also known as subjects that can include attributes. Inone embodiment an event includes an instance of one or more parametersthat are examined, analyzed and the like. As a non-limiting examplefeatures, situations and like are all parameters. A feature is anumerical value of a parameter, and a parameter vector, hereafter“feature vector” is a concatenation of all of the parameters. e.g.,features for an individual event. For purposes of the present inventiona manager is an attribute of an event. The values of a manager canchange from one organization to another.

In order to represent an event for use in a machine learning contexteach parameter needs to be converted into a numerical representation. Inone embodiment this is achieved by creating a “feature vector” for eachevent. Each parameter of the event is processed in some way. In oneembodiment each parameter is represented by one or more columns, of atable, in the final feature vector.

Events can include both numeric and non-numerical and text parameters.In one embodiment system 10 receives the events as they are received. Inone embodiment system 10 breaks the parameters that are non-numerical.An event can have some fields that are nested values. The nested valuesare lists and can be nested name-value pairs. They all decompose intotext or numeric values and the text is converted as more fully describedhereafter.

In order to represent an event for use in a machine learning contexteach parameter, feature vectors are created in order to do theconversion of non-numerical and text parameters. Each parameter of theevent is processed in some way and is represented by one or more columnsin the final feature vector.

Each parameter, whether text or numeric, can represent a “real” valuee.g. a number where there is a natural ordering or scale or a textualdescription. Alternatively, the parameter may represent some sort ofcategorical value/enumeration. Time based parameters (features) are alsopossible as are derived/ensemble parameters such as arrival order. Theseare parameters not contained within the event itself but can be derivedfrom the entire set of events.

In one embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 33(a) and (b), a columnrepresents a time and can be sorted in any time desired. In oneembodiment system 10 assigns an importance of a parameter based on time.As non-limiting examples, time can be handled a number of different waysincluding but not limited to as: an absolute value; an assembledparameter, in order of arrival, e.g., the first, second, third toarrive: ordered by time, severity and the like. In this manner anarrival order can be based on any parameter and not only by severity.

As a non-limiting example, and referring to FIG. 34, a slidedemonstrates an example of parameters/features of a subject. Alsoillustrated is how system 10 deals with events relating to that subject.As a non-limiting example a parameter/subject features table can havefour attributes of the subject which some numeric and others are text.System 10 turns the non-numerical parameters into numbers.

In one embodiment if parameters are numeric then they are all enteredwithout further conversion action by system 10. If they are notnumerical, a yes/no answer is turned into a number, where the yes become1's and the no's become 0.

In one embodiment a parameters can have multiple attributes. System 10provides for different categories as well as the creation of as manycolumns as there are categories. Machine learning algorithms, includingbut not limited to Boolean, are utilized. In one embodiment a Booleanvalue is assigned to a column.

In one embodiment severity is a number of a feature vector and occupiesone column of the feature vector.

As a non-limiting example system 10 can use shingles which are multipleletter segments of a word. In one embodiment system 10 does this for allhost names. As a non-limiting example system 10 can receive a number ofshingles. As a non-limiting example the word “switch” has six shinglesin it.

As a non-limiting example a parameter can include a plurality of words.As a non-limiting example there can be three host names. In thisembodiment the number of columns required is the number of uniqueshingles across all host names.

In one embodiment system 10 looks at individual phrases rather thanshingles. Again in this embodiment system 10 is dealing with words andphrases that have meaning and need to be converted to numerical values.The feature vector needs as many columns as there are unique words.

In one embodiment manager changes from organization to organization andit is the term provided by an organization. As a non-limiting examplemanger can be the name of the computer system/process that generated theevent. Each organization can use different terms for any event/alert.System 10 can include a plurality of columns in the feature vector. As anon-limiting example these can include severity, host name, and thelike. In one embodiment the columns represent the description, andcolumns can also represent the manager.

In one embodiment when system 10 examines text parameters system 10 goesthrough tokenization to convert sentences into words and can get rid ofstop words. In one embodiment stemming is used to de-pluralize words.

System 10 can utilize a variety of different ways to deal with textbased parameters, including but not limited to: shingling, tokenization,and the like, and a variety of ways to handle non-numeric parameters.System 10 can mix and match these. System 10 can apply any text basedparameter extraction methods to any text based parameter. System 10deals with attributes, text or numeric, by a plurality of methods ofhandling different types of parameters, and can use any of thosehandling techniques. In one embodiment system 10 mixes and matches anyof the preceding. In one embodiment for parameters that representcategories, a number or text based fields can be treated as a category.This is another way of doing the mixing and matching. System 10 cantreat the same parameter in a plurality of ways in the same model.

As a non-limiting example, severity can be treated as a numerical valueof from 0-7, with 0 being the lowest value. There is a natural order tothis and represents the significance of a parameter. System 10 can treatit as a number as well as a categorical parameter. System 10 canconstrain variable length shingle or word lists to a fixed size featurevector. As a non-limiting example this allows system 10 to apply asystem parameter, or solution to an event from organization A toorganization B. In this regard, system 10 can use what has been done forone organization to other organizations. As a non-limiting example acategory at a high level is what does this event representation. In oneembodiment system 10 can proceed further into the parameters of theevent. As a non-limiting example some parameters represent categories aswell. For example, manager can be a category. In one embodiment of anevent, a categorical parameter is different values representun-connected attributes. The individual components are the parameters.

As illustrated in FIG. 35 in one embodiment an agent technology system610 includes a statistical analytical engine 612. In one embodimentagent technology system 610 detects anomalies before generating anevent.

In one embodiment the statistical analytical engine 612 is coupled to amanaged server 616 and to an ATOps server 618. A cloud system 620 can bein communication with engine and servers 612, 614 and 616 respectfully.

In one embodiment the statistical analytical analytic engine 612executes a collection of software components, including but not limitedto one or more statistical algorithms.

In one embodiment the statistical algorithm can be executed usingsoftware system 30 of FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b).

As a non-limiting example the statistical analytical analytic engine 612includes a platform 619. As a non-limiting example the platform 619conducts discovery and fingerprinting and runs tests on these on a box620 that it runs on. 1

As a non-limiting example the statistical analytical engine 612 executesa configurable collection of agent technology system 610 tasks that canbe run to probe hardware of a managed infrastructure 14 which are thenused to compare against templates to identify a hardware element such asa device of managed infrastructure 14.

In one embodiment the statistical analytical analytic engine 612 acts,receives or includes a system monitoring policy 622. As a non-limitingexample the monitoring policy can include but is not limited to: acollection of rules, libraries, programs that instructs an agent 624

In one embodiment there can be an unbounded number of agents. In oneembodiment the statistical analytical analytic engine 612 actively pollsfor data or configures itself to set up and receive data relative tomanaged infrastructure 14.

In one embodiment agent technology system 610 includes a plurality ofdata centers 626. In one embodiment technology system 610 usesstatistical analysis to analyze data from data centers 626. As anon-limiting example a library of statistical analysis tools is used todetermine when a value of received data is anomalous from a standardvalue. In the event an anomaly is detected by agent technology system610 generates an event that is sent to the ATOps server 618 forprocessing. In one embodiment agent technology system 610 also allow anenvelope on either side of the anomaly to be recorded in a database forfurther analysis. In one embodiment the further analysis is done at alater time. In this manner agent technology system 610 greatly reducesthe amount of data that is analyzed because anomalies are detectedfirst.

In one embodiment the anomaly is in an object definition. In oneembodiment a definition file is provided that defines a managementpolicy that an agent executes, including but not limited to: how/when toretrieve data, process and detect anomalies, and the like.

In one embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 36, system 10 uses graph theoryto optimize events and alerts and provide greater accuracy. In oneembodiment system 10 includes a plurality of techniques to provideoptimization of the nodes of graph 710. In one embodiment graph 710 isgraph 232. As a non-limiting example graph theory is used to provideattributes of graph 710 of events.

As a non-limiting example graph 710 can be used to represent anyrelationship between things relative to managed infrastructure 14. Inone embodiment system 10 creates a graph 710 where each node representsan event, and an edge of graph 710 represents if there is a relationshipbetween the events. As a non-limiting example a determination therelationship between events can be a determination if all of the eventsarrive at about the same time, are the events connected to the same IPservice, and the like.

In one embodiment each node can be related to each other node. In graph710 the existence of the edge can be a 1 or a 0, e.g. which is arelationship or not. Additionally there can be an edge with a valuebetween 0 and 1. The closer the value is to 0 represents a weakerrelationship and the closer the value is to 1 represents a greaterrelationship.

Graph 710 of events is used with graph theory to group together eventsthat are similar to each other. As a non-limiting example maximalconnectivity is utilized.

In one embodiment system 10 reviews graph 710 and determine if nodes arerelated in a group. When the nodes are highly related in a group asituation is created. However, there can be a large collection of nodesand some sections of graph 710 can have dense connections but two ormore of the dense connections can be very separate. As a non-limitingexample there may only be one connection two sets of the denseconnections.

In one embodiment a detection algorithm is used with graph 710. As anon-limiting example the detection algorithm can be a communitydetection algorithm. In one embodiment graph 710 can have a communitystructure of the nodes of graph 710 can be easily grouped into(potentially overlapping) sets of nodes such that each set of nodes isdensely connected internally. In the particular case of non-overlappingcommunity finding, this implies that the graph 710 divides naturallyinto groups of nodes with dense connections internally and sparserconnections between groups.

In one embodiment the detection algorithm is an algorithm for findingcommunities. As non-limiting examples the community detection algorithmcan include: Louvain; external optimization; modularity and the like.

As a non-limiting example the detection algorithm identifies the groupsof highly connected nodes to determine if they are related. Modularityand Louvain algorithm are examples of community detection algorithms,there are others.

Another attribute of the graph 710 is the clustering coefficient toperform the preceding. In one embodiment community detection algorithmsare used to group alerts into operationally significant collectionswhere the collection is a situation.

In one embodiment the detection algorithm is used and determinations aremade as to the similarity of event arrival patterns.

Referring now to FIG. 37 each row represents an alert where an alert ismade of multiples events. As a non-limiting example in row 1 there are 4events. FIG. 37 uses three block shades. The second block shade codesthe alerts that have a similar set of arrival patterns. The third blockis the second block re-ordered.

The first and second rows have similar arrival patterns and we system 10assigns a similarity value to the first three rows. As illustrated withthe third color there are very limited arrival patterns. Rows 4, 5 and 6have some similarity of arrival patterns. However with these rows graph710 is a weighted graph with a low value.

The different blocks show that there are different types of situations.

The rows are compared with each other a similarity matrix is created. Inone if there is an adjacent matrix can apply a plurality of graph theorytechniques can be applied, including but not limited to communitydetection and equivalents.

In one embodiment system 10 uses natural language processing techniques.In one embodiment system 10 uses natural language processing techniquesto analyze threshold entries in a situation room to identify resolutionsto problems.

The foregoing description of various embodiments of the claimed subjectmatter has been provided for the purposes of illustration anddescription. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the claimedsubject matter to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to the practitioner skilled in the art.Particularly, while the concept “component” is used in the embodimentsof the systems and methods described above, it will be evident that suchconcept can be interchangeably used with equivalent concepts such as,class, method, type, interface, module, object model, and other suitableconcepts. Embodiments were chosen and described in order to bestdescribe the principles of the invention and its practical application,thereby enabling others skilled in the relevant art to understand theclaimed subject matter, the various embodiments and with variousmodifications that are suited to the particular use contemplated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for decomposing events from managedinfrastructures, comprising: a first engine, that can be an extractionengine, configured to receive message data from managed infrastructurethat includes managed infrastructure physical hardware that supports theflow and processing of information, the at least one engine configuredto determine common characteristics of events and produce clusters ofevents relating to failure of errors in the managed infrastructure,where membership in a cluster indicates a common factor of the eventsthat is a failure or an actionable problem in the physical hardwaremanaged infrastructure directed to supporting the flow and processing ofinformation, the at least one engine is configured to create one or moresituations that is a collection of one or more events or alertsrepresentative of the actionable problem in the managed infrastructure;a second engine, selected from at least one of: a signalizer engine, aNon-negative Matrix Factorization (NMF engine), a k-means clusteringengine and a topology proximity engine, configured to determine one ormore common steps from events and produces clusters relating to events,the second engine determining one or more common characteristics ofevents and producing clusters of events relating to the failure orerrors in the managed infrastructure; and wherein the system isconfigured to use natural language processing techniques to analyzethreshold entries at a User Interface to identify resolutions toproblems.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first engine is anextraction engine.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second engineis a signalizer engine.
 4. The system of claim 2, wherein the firstengine in operation receives messages from the managed infrastructure.5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first engine in operation producesevents that relate to the managed infrastructure.
 6. The system of claim5, wherein the events are converted into words and subsets used to groupthe events into clusters that relate to failures or errors in themanaged infrastructure.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the secondengine is configured to determine one or more common characteristics ofevents and produces clusters relating to events.
 8. The system of claim1, wherein an optional subset of attributes is extracted for each eventand turned into a vector.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the thirdengine inputs a list of devices.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein thesecond engine includes or is coupled to a k-means clustering engine thatuser graph coordinates to generate one or more clusters that bringstogether events with similar characteristics.
 11. The system of claim 1,wherein the second engine includes or is coupled to an NMF engine thatfirst extracts clusters that have greater importance.
 12. The system ofclaim 11, wherein the clusters are assign a start and an end time. 13.The system of claim 1, wherein the managed infrastructure is from abusiness organization.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the managedinfrastructure includes, computers, network devices, appliances, mobiledevices, text or numerical values from which those text or numericalvalues indicate a state of any hardware or software component of themanaged infrastructure.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the managedinfrastructure generates data that include attributes selected from atleast one of, time, source a description of the event, textural ornumerical values from which those text or numerical values indicate astate of any hardware or software component of the managedinfrastructure.
 16. The system of claim 1, further comprising: apublication message bus.
 17. The system of claim 1, further comprising:a data bus web server coupled to one or more user interfaces.
 18. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein a plurality of link access modules are incommunication with a data bus.
 19. The system of claim 1, furthercomprising: a database.
 20. The system of claim 1, wherein theextraction engine reformats data from the events to create reformatteddata.
 21. The system of claim 20, wherein the reformatted data isreceived at the system bus.
 22. The system of claim 1, wherein adictionary is generated with word and subtexts using Shannon Entropy,−ln(1/NGen) and normalizes the words and subtexts.
 23. The system ofclaim 22, wherein normalized words and subtexts are mapped from a common0.0 to a non-common 1.0.
 24. The system of claim 1, further comprising:an entropy database that in operation normalizes entropy for events. 25.The system of claim 24, wherein normalized entropy for events is mappedto a common, 0.0 and a non-common, 1.0.
 26. The system of claim 1,wherein entropy is assigned to the alerts.
 27. The system of claim 1,wherein the alerts are run in parallel with activities of the firstengine.
 28. The system of claim 1, wherein the alerts are passed to thesecond engine.